When a Word document won’t let you type, delete, or change formatting, it’s usually because someone turned on Restrict Editing. The fix is quick if you know the password, or if none was set. This guide shows how to stop protection in Word for Windows, Mac, and the web, how to tell Restrict Editing apart from other read-only modes, and what your options are if you’ve lost the password to your own file.
Quick Answer
Open the document, go to the Review tab, click Restrict Editing, and click Stop Protection at the bottom of the pane. Enter the password if Word asks for one, then click OK.
Remove Restrict Editing in Word for Windows
- Open the document in the Word desktop app.
- Click the Review tab.
- In the Protect group, click Restrict Editing. The Restrict Editing pane opens on the right.
- Click Stop Protection at the bottom of the pane.
- If a password was set, type it and click OK. Passwords are case-sensitive.
- Clear the checkboxes under Formatting restrictions and Editing restrictions if you don’t want to reapply them later, then save the file.
Remove It in Word for Mac
- Open the document and click the Review tab.
- Click Restrict Editing (on some versions, Protect > Protect Document).
- Click Stop Protection or clear Protect document for, and enter the password if prompted.
- Save the document.
Word for the Web
Word for the web can open restricted documents but has limited tools for removing protection. Click Editing > Open in Desktop App and follow the Windows or Mac steps.
Is It Really Restrict Editing? Other Read-Only Causes
| What you see | Cause | How to fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow bar: “PROTECTED VIEW” | File came from the internet or email | Click Enable Editing |
| Yellow bar: “MARKED AS FINAL” | Author used Mark as Final | Click Edit Anyway |
| Prompt to open as read-only | Always Open Read-Only or a file password | File > Info > Protect Document and turn off Always Open Read-Only |
| “Read-Only” in the title bar | File attribute, OneDrive sync, or another user has it open | Right-click the file > Properties > clear Read-only, or wait for the other user |
| Only certain areas editable | Restrict Editing | Review > Restrict Editing > Stop Protection |
If you see a yellow bar, see our guide to switching Word out of read-only and viewing modes.
If You Forgot the Password on Your Own Document
Microsoft can’t recover Restrict Editing passwords. If the document is yours, try these options:
- Look for an older copy without protection: File > Info > Version History (for OneDrive or SharePoint files) or a backup.
- Copy the content into a new document. If copying is allowed, press Ctrl + A, Ctrl + C, then paste into a new blank document. Some formatting may change.
- Insert the file into a new document: create a blank document, go to Insert > Object > Text from File, and choose the protected file. This often brings in the content without the editing restrictions.
- Ask the person who protected it, such as a coworker or template owner.
Only use these methods on documents you own or have permission to change.
To set it up, see how to restrict editing in Word.
Troubleshooting
- Restrict Editing is grayed out: the file may be open in Protected View or Compatibility Mode. Enable editing first, or save as a .docx via File > Info > Convert.
- Stop Protection doesn’t appear: the document might be protected with Information Rights Management or a sensitivity label, which is controlled by your organization, not by Restrict Editing.
- Password rejected: check Caps Lock and keyboard language.
Related: Lock text in Word.
Related: How to check file permissions in Word.
Related: How to unlock editing in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Restrict Editing and Encrypt with Password?
Restrict Editing controls what people can change after opening the file. Encrypt with Password (File > Info > Protect Document) stops anyone from opening the file without the password.
Can I allow edits only in certain parts of a document?
Yes. In the Restrict Editing pane, choose No changes (Read only), select the areas people can change, check Everyone under Exceptions, and click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.
Summary
- Go to Review > Restrict Editing.
- Click Stop Protection.
- Enter the password if prompted.
- Save the document.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.