Dave, I just got another read-only password-protected Word file from my boss and I’m hoping there’s a way to sidestep the password because he gets really mad every time I ask him to unlock the file and/or send me an unprotected version. I dunno if this is legal, though. Can you even answer this for me?
Okay, everyone who thinks this is illegal, click here and you can go shopping instead. 🙂
Good, we’ve gotten rid of those sticklers and can talk about the relatively simple technique that you can use to sidestep the password protection on a Word file. Is it illegal? I don’t think so, since it’s a document that your boss sent you.
Here’s how you crack the password protected Microsoft Word file:
First, open the document and do a “Save As…” specifying Rich Text Format (RTF). It’ll end up being called something.rtf.
Now open the RTF file by double-clicking on it. It should look identical to the original Word file.
Final step: save the RTF file with a new name as a Microsoft Word format document.
That’s all there is to it. You’ve sidestepped the read-only lock on the file your boss sent you and are good to go.
In terms of actually breaking the password on a file that has it set as the “open file” password, that’s beyond the scope of what I’ll write about here. But I will say that there are some Google searches that can probably help you track down plenty of tips on doing just that.
S Word has used 128-bit AES encryption since Office 2007 so no, there’s no easy way to unlock it.
If think your password is simple enough or vunerable to a dictionary attack, you could try one of the various password cracking apps available (caveat downloader).
It’s trivial to remove the Edit protection from Word documents by editing ‘settings.xml’ within the compressed .docx file as discussed in other answers here. However, as you have applied ‘Encrypt with Password’ to require a password to open the document, that method won’t be available.
You probably should look into a paid tool if getting this document open is important. How about this one: http://www.iseepassword.com/office-password-recovery.html
If you do find a free one, please do share with us.
I forget my password of Microsoft office Word doc2007 in win7..please give a solution please…..
i forgot excel password protection please help me
Nobody encrypted .xlsx format excel file. So forget it.
the steps you provide to break the password or create a new document to side step the password didn’t work. Maybe because I am using MS Word 10. but even the tool is protected.
Hey!
I have a document file in microsoft office word 2007. i have put and encryption that is a password. its been 3 or 4 years since i saw this file. now i have forgotten the password and now i want to decrypt it i tried above all means i am not able to do that please help me…
with regards
ila
Hey!
I have a document file in microsoft office word 2007. i have put and encryption that is a password. its been 3 or 4 years since i saw this file. now i have forgotten the password and now i want to decrypt it i tried above all means i am not able to do that please help me…
with regards
yash
You are amazing! Worked like a charm! Thanks a million
Hey i hav a file which is passwrd protcted on ms offc profssnl plus 2010 so how can I open it. I try many typs of s/w bt all are uselss plz help mee guyz.. plz
thankz
“To crack a password protected document, Step one: Open the document”. I must be missing some new logical magic step here. If the document is password protected and needs to be cracked, how do you perform the first step?
How to crack a safe. Step One, open the safe????
Rename the subject line.
I was thinking the same thing…
Great stuff 🙂
Big EZE, your instructions for Word 2010, renaming the file to .zip, deleting settings.xml, and renaming back to .docx, worked like a charm. Bravo!
Again – this is only for a document that CAN be opened and is restricted from editing.
NOTE: While the title of the link is a bit misleading, this post is about interfering with passwords that prevent you from MODIFYING a document. Password Restriction.
Obviously, people who want to be able to open a totally password PROTECTED document are going to be disappointed, but they should also recognize that their issue is different from the one being discussed, and not pretend that everyone is simply being obtuse or unhelpful.
I have one Word and one excel file which have been password protected thus i cannot open the file anymore. Can you please assist me in unlocking and viewing these files again?
Much appreciated!
T
Thanks! Greatest things are just simple !
Have a nice day!
Here is what happened to me,
I was using two administrator accounts with two different passwords and once a friend of mine pluged in his flash and released a virus to my computer then after the computer was restarted it couldn’t display the desktop, then I tried to fix it by coping the system32 from the OS cd. then it worked but unbelivabely the password of the first account opened the second account but the first account couldn’t be opened by either of the passwords, unfortunately the account I couldn’t open was the one I have lots of documents I have been working on for the past six (6) years, then I installed windows again leaving the files undeleted then i found them all but I couldn’t open them even in read only. Please Any Idea What I should do to access my documents would be a lot apperciated.
For anyone who has been plagued by Word or Excel passwords, if the format is .docx (I don’t believe this will work for .doc formats) simply rename the file extension .zip, open the ‘word’ or ‘excel’ folder within the zip, delete “Settings.XML” and it will instantly remove the password from the document. Rename your document .docx or .xlsx and you should be able to open it without a problem.
Converting it to XML and opening it in Notepad worked for me in Word.
What about excel 2010
OS Windows 7
Oh yes,, apparently there’s no solution to OPEN a password protected document. All my info is gone forever! So sad. One of those lessons one’s got to learn the hard way
GUYS PLS DO HELP ME
ALL THE TIPS WONT WORK TO MS WORD 2007
i cant edit or “save as .html or .rtf” the document since in the first place its asking for a PASSWORD.
the first step that is alwways mentioned here is “OPEN the FILE and save as” but once again it cant be open since there is a PASSWORD
“Step 1 – Open the protected file
ERROR – require password to open password protected file” <-this error is the problem cant proceed to step 2 because of the password
Try saving the Word document as a WordPad file. It should work.
Hi dave, i read all of pages. but i cannot do it successfully because my protteced ms file is msword 2007. op sys is windows 7.at first i rename the file *.rft then open with word pad.save as *.docx. but dont understand the text. some thing like this(:(U£;Î9 ïµ,X87ÐÈd?&Ù,™½§™îx% &–¯‹)what can i do? pls help me. its very inprotent to me.please please help me what can i do?
Hi dave, i read all of pages. but i cannot do it successfully because my protteced ms file is msword 2007. op sys is windows 7.at first i rename the file *.rft then open with word pad.save as *.docx. but dont understand the text. some thing like this(:(U£;Î9 ïµ,X87ÐÈd?&Ù,™½§™îx% &–¯‹)what can i do? pls help me. its very inprotent to me.
This link just wasted 5 minutes of my time that I will never get back. YOU CAN’T OPEN A MS WORD DOC THAT IS PASSWORD PROTECTED!!!!!!
Worked just fine!
Thumbs up for you!
😉
Man, You have really saved me, thanks a lot
I prepared a document in case of divorce with my husband.
I changed regularly the password to open and modify it (it is the same password). But now I can not open anymore because I lost the last one.
If I give you that file, could you open it for me ?
I tried to change the extension .rtf and no use.
Every crackers I found on the web give only a demo version. I bought one very expensive and limited times to use (all the credit is already used and I do not want to pay 30 euros more).
This document is important for me !
Please help me ! Thanks so much
Thank u dave…. U saved my life thanx a lot X333
Glad to see this very helpful post has not been removed!
I used it ages ago (like 2007 or so!), and have just needed a reminder again today!
The post has grown to 3 pages long from 2005, obviously helped a lot of people along the way, good on you!
Cheerio.
Very helpful post and tips from commenters regarding final step of unclicking Restrict Editing button was also very helpful. Thank you!
Yes password protected word file is simple to crack. Just have to change some security settings 😉
Step 1 – Open the protected file
ERROR – require password to open password protected file. Duh!
What next, instructions on how to break into Fort Knox:
1) Enter Fort Knox
2) Change all the locks and have the new keys
3) Use the new keys to break in.
That’s what this boils down to.
ANSWER: Save the file as a PDF. Then open the PDF version and save it as a MS word version again! Ding! ding! there you go
dear Dave, i hv .docx file, ms word 2007, password of this protected file, i hv forgotten… can u help to retrieve that documents…
in this regard what i hv done…
1 change file name to .rtf / .html / .xml
2. but i hv not find the line like 19E8E61E etc.
pls guide me.. i am in grt trouble
Gin
Fantastic. Worked. I love this site!
You da man!
If you have a control freak boss, your first step should be to find another job.
How idiots can some people be there at Microsoft?
Attempting to protect a .doc file with a password just to make it read-only is like bolting your front door down while leaving all windows and back doors open. I can understand password protecting a .doc completely so that only the people you want can open it. But protecting is and making it read only is so stupid. This article is great in the sense that it (indirectly) proves that sometimes Microsoft is indeed the giant with clay feet.
Your solution does not seem to work for removing a password that restricts editing/formatting for a MS Word document. FYI, I am using MS Word 2007.
ok heres the dea. you have a word document that you can open, but it is locked for editing….
open document.
click anywhere on the document
press ctrl+A
press Ctrl+C
create a new word document
click inside
press Ctrl+V
save new document
ok you are ready to edit the new document….
easy!!!!!!
hi, if file is not openable. which means password is on the open file. and hence cant open the file in word. now how to crack the password.
please guide. lost password.
Following worked for me (office 2010)
1. Save as html
2. Open html file in notes ++ (or any other html editor i suppose)
3. remove the 19E8E61E line
4. Open html file in word
5. Remove the protection (this time without being prompted for pwd)
6. Save back as word file.
Thanks!
My MS Word File is converted into Coded form what can I do.
Here is my story:
1. Doc prepared in word 2007.
2. Encrypted the doc = put a password.
3. Forgot the password.
4. Since i cannot open the file now so i renamed the file to rtf.
5. Open this rtf file in word pad but the whole doc is encrypted so cannot read.
6. I copied the data and pasted in a new doc but the result is still same.
7. can someone help, no solution above is working
Please do help me to solve this problem. My file was very important.
Here is my story:
1. Doc prepared in word 2007.
2. Encrypted the doc = put a password.
3. Forgot the password.
4. Since i cannot open the file now so i renamed the file to rtf.
5. Open this rtf file in word pad but the whole doc is encrypted so cannot read.
6. I copied the data and pasted in a new doc but the result is still same.
7. can someone help, no solution above is working
Great tip. Still working fine for me.
very goos solution . it is now done , thanx for the advice
Hi, I have some important Ms. Word files and now while I am opening them, they it says select coding and they open like codes, pleas try to solve my prob they are so important