In the list of editing restrictions, click No changes (Read only). In the Editing restrictions area, select the Allow only this type of editing in the document check box. On the Review tab, in the Protect group, click Restrict Editing. Step 3: Click Protected View, then disable (uncheck) all three of the options listed there.Īgain, this is something you should do at your own risk, as all it takes is one security breach to wreak havoc on your documents or entire system. Add protection and mark the parts that can be changed. Step 2: Click Trust Center and then Trust Center Options. Step 1: Start Word, click File and then choose Options. But if your documents always come from reliable sources and you're running reliable antivirus software, you may prefer to turn off Protected View and save that extra step. And it's easy enough to click Enable Editing and go on about your business. Because remember the infamous Melissa macro virus of 1999? You never know when it's going to come roaring back.

By restricting to merely viewing the document, Word is protecting you from any viruses that may be embedded in the file. This is, believe it or not, a feature, even if it comes across an annoyance. docx extension normally associated with Word documents to a. If you're routinely on the receiving end of Word documents and have a current version of Microsoft Office, you may have noticed something: Whenever you open one of these file attachments or downloads, Word opens in something called Protected View. 2.4 Edit Protected Word Document by Changing File Extension There is still yet another way to edit a locked Word document: by changing the file extension.

How to edit protected word document