Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 29, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365
If you previously protected your document for change tracking, for comments, or for forms, then you will probably need to unprotect the document at some time so that you can make unrestricted changes. To unprotect your document, follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Unprotect Document dialog box.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (6057) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Turning Off Document Protection.
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