Enable editing in your document

Applies To
Word for Microsoft 365 Word 2024 Word 2021 Word 2019 Word 2016

If you receive or open a document and can't make any changes, it might be Open for viewing only in Protected View.

Note

Some editing restrictions are controlled by the document owner or your organization and cannot be changed locally.

Clear Read-Only option

  1. Go to File > Info.
  2. Select Protect document.
  3. Select Always Open Read-Only to clear it.

Word Menu that allows to select/unselect Always Open Read-Only function

Update the document access mode

If you still can't edit, you can try the upper-right corner drop-down.

Select Viewing or Reviewing and switch to Editing.

Word options for Editing, Reviewing or Viewing a document

Note

If you can't exit Protected View, it's possible that the document author or your system administrator has rules established that prevent editing.