For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 212135.
For a Microsoft Word 97 version of this article, see 197203.
For a Microsoft Word version of this article, see 84545.
Summary
In Microsoft Word, a password-protected document cannot be recovered if the password for that document is lost or forgotten. Microsoft does not offer a service to retrieve documents to which passwords have been added, nor does it offer any information about such services or processes.
More Information
The policy described in the "Symptoms" section of this article is intended to prevent any damages to Word users who rely on the security that their passwords provide. To recover a password-protected document, you must remember the assigned password.
Note Remember that passwords are case sensitive. If you used a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters when you set up your password, you must use the same combination when you use the password to access your document. Also, before you type your password, verify that the CAPS LOCK key is not active.