This article explains how to remove the "Read Only" lock from a Microsoft Word document. It's impossible to remove the lock from another user's password-protected document if you don't know it, but you can easily copy its text to a new file.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Disable Protected View for Internet Downloaded Files
Step 1. Learn which documents are normally protected
All Word documents you download from the internet (for example email attachments or files taken from websites) are assigned read-only protection when you open them. You can deactivate this block once the document is open.
Step 2. Open the Word document
Double-click on the file you want to remove read-only protection from.
If you've already opened the document, close it and open it again
Step 3. Look for a light yellow bar
If you notice a yellow bar with the phrase "Files taken from the internet may contain viruses" at the top of the Word document, the file has been protected by the read-only lock.
If you don't see the bar even after closing and reopening the document, try one of the other methods in the article
Step 4. Click Enable Changes
You should see this button on the right side of the bar. Press it and the document will be updated and the read-only protection will be removed. You should now be able to edit the file.
Method 2 of 4: Disable Protected View for Password Files
Step 1. Open the Word document
Double-click on the file you want to unprotect from. It will open in Word.
Step 2. Click the Review tab
You will find it in the upper right corner of the program window. Press it and the toolbar will open Revision at the top of Word.
Step 3. Click Protect Document
This button is located on the far right of the toolbar Revision. Press it and a menu will open on the right side of the window.
Step 4. Click Remove Protection
This is one of the last items on the menu. A window should appear at this point.
If the protection was created by you or by another user on the same computer, without entering a password, by clicking Remove protection the operation will be done automatically.
Step 5. Enter your password when asked
Type the password for the document in the "Password" field, then click OK. If the keyword is correct, you will immediately remove the read-only lock from the document.
If you don't know the password, you will need to copy and paste the contents of the file
Step 6. Save your changes
Press Ctrl + S (Windows) or ⌘ Command + S (Mac) to do this. From now on, the file will no longer be in read-only mode until you re-enable protection.
Method 3 of 4: Change File Properties
Step 1. Go to the Word document
Find the folder that contains it.
If the file is not physically saved to your computer (for example it is on a USB drive or CD), copy it to your system before continuing
Step 2. Open the properties of the Word file
The way to do this varies according to your computer's operating system:
- Windows: Click on the Word file, right-click again, then click Property from the drop-down menu.
- Mac: Click on the Word file, click the menu File at the top left of your Mac screen, then click Get information.
Step 3. Find the "Permissions" section
On a Windows computer you will find the options you are looking for in the "Attributes" section at the bottom of the "Properties" window.
On Mac you have to click Sharing & Permissions at the bottom of the window.
Step 4. Turn off read-only protection
Again, the required operation varies whether you are using a Windows system or a Mac:
- Windows: uncheck the "Read only" box at the bottom of the window, click Apply, then click OK.
-
Mac: Click the option Reading to the right of your username, then click Reading & Writing in the menu that appears.
If you are unable to complete the operation, first click the lock in the lower left corner of the information window, then enter your Mac password
- If this item is grayed out, unchecked, or the current setting is not "Read Only", you must try copying and pasting the contents of the file.
Step 5. Try editing the file
Open the Word document by double clicking, then try to edit it. Remember that before you can do this you may need to remove the read-only lock for files downloaded from the internet.
Method 4 of 4: Copy and Paste
Step 1. Learn how this method works
If your primary goal is to edit your Word document, you can copy the text and paste it into a new file, then save it to your computer. This way you won't remove read-only protection from the original document, but rather create an editable copy.
Step 2. Open the protected Word document
To do this, double click on the file.
Step 3. Click anywhere in the document
This way you will see the mouse pointer appear in the document window.
Step 4. Select the entire document
To do this, press Ctrl + A (Windows) or ⌘ Command + A (Mac). All text should be highlighted.
Step 5. Copy the selected text
Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (Mac). This will copy the text of the document to the computer clipboard.
Step 6. Open a new Word document
Click File in the upper left part of the program window, click New one on the left side of the window, then click Blank document to open a blank page of Word.
On Mac, click the entry File, then click New blank document at the top of the menu that appears.
Step 7. Paste the text you copied
To do this, press Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ Command + V (Mac) and the text will appear in the blank document.
It may take a few seconds to complete if the original file is particularly large or contains images
Step 8. Save the document as a new file
Press Ctrl + S (Windows) or ⌘ Command + S (Mac), then enter a name for the new document and click Save. You will be able to edit the new file you created normally.
