Can’t edit Word document; Remove editing restrictions

Are you unable to edit a Word doc in your Home windows PC? A number of customers have reported that they will’t edit their paperwork in Microsoft Word. Some customers complained of getting an error message once they attempt to edit a doc e.g., You’ll be able to’t make this transformation as a result of the choice is locked, and so on. On the similar time, many have complained that they will’t kind within the Word doc with none error immediate.

Why is editing locked on Word?

The proprietor of a Word doc can lock a doc or password-protect it to limit editing by different customers for safety functions. Additionally, downloaded information from on-line sources are opened in Protected View in Word as a result of they might comprise viruses. So, to stop you from viruses or malware, the net information are opened in read-only mode.

It’s also prone to be the case that your trial or subscription of Workplace is expired which is why you’ll be able to’t edit the doc. Additionally, the file is perhaps opened and in use by one other consumer on the identical community attributable to which you’re unable to make adjustments to the doc.

Can’t edit Word doc

For those who can’t edit a Word doc in your Home windows PC, you should use the next strategies to take away editing restrictions from the doc and repair the problem:

1. Allow Editing for on-line information.
2. Edit the Properties of the problematic doc.
3. Examine in case your Workplace Trial or subscription has expired.
4. Cease Safety for password-protected information.
5. Examine if the doc is in use by one other consumer.
6. Use Word On-line.
7. Copy and Paste the textual content into a brand new Word doc.
8. Attempt an alternative choice to Microsoft Word.

Remove editing restrictions in Word

1] Allow Editing for on-line information

Any Word doc that you just obtain from the web after which open in Microsoft Word will probably be opened within the Protected View mode (read-only mode). So, you gained’t be capable of edit the doc. Nevertheless, in the event you belief that doc and its supply, you’ll be able to disable the safety by clicking on the Allow Editing button from the warning proven on the prime of the doc.

Learn: The file can’t be opened as a result of there are issues with the contents.

2] Edit the Properties of the problematic doc

You’ll be able to unblock the doc and take away the safety by editing the properties of the doc in query. For that, comply with the under easy steps:

• First, save the Word doc with which you’re going through the problem in your native drive.
• Now, right-click on the doc and choose the Properties choice from the appeared context menu.
• Subsequent, within the Basic tab, click on on the Unblock checkbox current subsequent to the Safety choice.
• Additionally, ensure that the Learn-only checkbox is unchecked.
• After that, go to the Safety tab and choose your username.
• Then, guarantee that all of the permissions are allowed for the chosen consumer.
• When completed, press the Apply > OK button to save lots of adjustments.

Now, open the Word doc and see in the event you can edit it.

See: All my Information and Folders are Learn Solely on Home windows PC.

3] Examine in case your Workplace Trial or subscription has expired

In case your Workplace trial or subscription is expired, you gained’t be capable of edit your paperwork and use most options of Word. Therefore, guarantee that you’re utilizing an Workplace account with a sound subscription plan to have the ability to make modifications to your Word doc. Activate your Workplace account after which attempt editing the paperwork.

4] Cease Safety for password-protected information

In case a file is password protected, you’ll be able to take away safety from the doc. Listed here are the steps to try this:

• First, open the problematic doc in Word.
• Now, click on on the Evaluation menu from the highest ribbon.
• Subsequent, within the Defend group, click on on the Prohibit Editing choice.
• After that, you will notice a Cease Safety button within the right-side pane; click on on it.
• It’ll now ask to enter the proper password to unprotect the doc. Try this and press the OK button.

See: Word can’t full the save attributable to a file permission error.

5] Examine if the doc is in use by one other consumer

In case you are attempting to entry and edit a Word doc from a community drive, it is perhaps the case that the doc is in use by one other consumer on the identical community. So, in that case, you should use the under steps to repair the problem:

First, save all of your work and stop all of the working applications.

Now, hit the Ctrl+Alt+Delete hotkey to the Home windows Safety dialog field and select Activity Supervisor.

Subsequent, within the Processes tab, click on on the Microsoft Word app and press the Finish process button to shut it.

You could repeat the above steps for all situations of Word. As soon as completed, shut the Activity Supervisor window.

After that, press Win+E to open File Explorer and navigate to the folder the place the doc file that you would be able to’t edit is saved. Then, take away the proprietor file. You’ll be able to determine the file by a tilde (~), adopted by a greenback signal ($), after which the rest of the filename of the problematic doc, e.g., ~$cument.doc.

As soon as completed, restart Microsoft Word and click on the No button in case you are prompted if you wish to load the adjustments that have been made to the World or Regular template.

Lastly, open your doc and hopefully, you’ll now be capable of make the required modifications to it.

Learn: Word icon shouldn’t be displaying on .doc & .docx doc information.

6] Use Word On-line

In case your trial has expired and also you don’t personal a subscription to Microsoft Workplace, you should use its internet model. Word On-line is the online model of Microsoft Word that provides a restricted set of options at no cost. You’ll be able to open your Word doc on the internet model of Word and carry out some primary editing.

7] Copy and Paste the textual content into a brand new Word doc

In case not one of the above fixes labored for you, we advise you copy and paste the textual content into a brand new doc. You’ll be able to create a brand new Word doc, copy all the textual content from the problematic doc utilizing Ctrl+A > Ctrl+C, and paste it into the newly created doc utilizing Ctrl+V. This manner it is possible for you to to edit the doc textual content if that’s what your most important function is.

8] Attempt an alternative choice to Microsoft Word

You may as well use a Microsoft Word various and see in the event you can edit your doc. A number of free doc editors present an analogous set of options as Word. For instance, you should use WPS Workplace, LibreOffice Author, OpenOffice Author, and different applications to edit Word paperwork at no cost.

How do I allow Microsoft Editor in Word?

Microsoft Editor is an AI-powered grammar checking instrument utilizing which you will discover out spelling and grammar errors in your paperwork. You need to use it in Microsoft Word. To try this, open your doc in Word and go to the Residence tab. Subsequent, click on on the Editor instrument from the proper aspect of the ribbon. It’ll present you corrections, refinements, and different writing scores.

Now learn: Word Consumer doesn’t have entry privileges.