How To Remove Read-Only From A Microsoft Word Document

If you get a Word document and are unable to edit it, the Word document is in protected mode. Without permission, you can only access as a read only readers. Don’t worry, this article will teach you how to remove read only from Word document and make the Word document editable.

The five methods work for Microsoft Word 2019/2016/2013/2010 and earlier. Choose the right method according to your specific situation.
Methods 1: Disable Mark as Final

1. After the Word document is open, if you see a yellow banner at the top of the document that says MARKED AS FINAL, just click the Edit Anyway button on the banner to remove the Read-Only status.

2. Alternatively, you can click File > Info > Protect Document > Mark as Final to turn off Mark as Final.

Methods 2: Remove the Read-Only attribute
If the Word document is not marked as final but the title bar of the document is still marked as Read-Only, chances are that the Word file has been set to read-only attribute. In this case, changing the Word file’s properties will remove the read-only status.
1. Right click on the Word file and select Properties from the context menu.

2. When the file’s Properties window opens, select the General tab, uncheck the Read-only box in the Attributes section and click Apply followed by OK.

Methods 3: Remove Restrict Editing

If you are trying to modify the Word document, but find that the content is locked and cannot be edited, you will realize that the Word document is restricted editing and read-only. In this case, just stop restrict editing to remove the read-only restriction.
1. Move your mouse pointer to the Word document’s menu bar and click Review > Restrict Editing. This will open the Restrict Editing panel from the right side of the Word document.

2. Click the Stop Protection button at the bottom of the Restrict Editing panel. This will immediately remove restrict editing and change your Word document from read-only to editable.

However, If you can not remember or don't have the password, you can not unrestrict the document. So, what to do now? How to change a word document from read only when it is password protected and you don't have the password? Isn't there any way to do so?
Yes, there is, see Method 4 to know more!
Method 4: Remove Editing Restriction from Word Document without Password
When a word document is password protected and you don't have the password, you can get access to the document using a third-party application. If you are looking for a faster solution that guarantees high success rate, consider using Passper for Word. Passper for Word is a powerful tool that allows you to access locked word documents and remove all restrictions on your word document with ease.
Some Features of Passper for Word are:

All kinds of restrictions on your word document can be removed even you know nothing about the correct password.
The program uses advanced technology to ensure a 100% success rate.
The whole removal process will be finished within seconds with one simple click.
The tool has a broad compatibility. It supports Word versions from 97 to 2019, and supports all word file types.

Follow the steps below to use Passper for Word to change a word document from Read Only to unrestricted:
1. Once installation, run Passper for Word. Choose Remove Restrictions on the home page of the program.

2. Click Select a File to import your restricted word document.

3. After selecting the document you want to remove restrictions, click Remove and the restrictions will soon be removed. You can edit the word document after the process.

Method 5: Remove Read-Only Recommended option
When you open the Word document, if a dialog pops up telling that the author would like you to open the document as read-only, as show in the figure below, you will realize that the document is set to Read-Only Recommended.

Read-Only Recommended does not really stop you from making changes to the Word document, because you can click No to open the document in its normal status instead of as read-only. However, you may get tired of the dialog popping up each time you open the Word document so that you will want to remove the Read-Only Recommended. To remove Read-Only Recommended from the Word document, perform the following steps.
1. Open the Word document. When the dialog that suggests you open the document as read-only opens, click No.
2. Click File > Save As and choose a location to save the document.
3. When the Save As dialog opens, click the Tools button and select General Options from the drop-down menu.