File encryption ensures that the confidential data included in the document is 100% safe from any unauthorized access. However, while taking these security measures, the encrypted files might get corrupted, resulting in significant data loss.
Here, we’ve put together the best approaches to fix encrypted word files on Windows as well as effective tips to avoid this problem.
Part 1: Reasons Why Word Files Get Encrypted?
MS Word is an extremely useful application that offers several striking features and data security measures. However, there’s still a need to encrypt the doc and Docx files to safeguard important information from unauthorized users.
The encryption of the Microsoft Word document protects the data from getting breached or being read by anyone. When encrypting a file, you’ll need to enter the encryption key in the form of a password or passphrase. The key will be then used to transform the document’s content in such a way as to make it unreadable.
Once a document has been encrypted, it can only be accessed with a key or passcode. Hence, you need to make sure that the password is saved in some safe place before encrypting the document containing confidential information. Since encryption encodes the data and makes it inaccessible, it automatically enhances the security of communication between the client apps and servers.
File encryption is the last line of defense. When it comes to cyberattacks, companies sometimes become powerless to stop them. The encryption of documents scrabbles the readable text, thus making it inaccessible or unreadable for others.
It has emerged as a key component to protect data and to keep intruders out. Encryption also safeguards the information against virus and spyware attacks, making it one of the best and powerful tools in the data security arsenal.
However, similar to any other word document, the encrypted file might also get corrupted and generate an error message when a user wants to access it. There are many reasons that can damage the encrypted document such as improper termination of the MS Word application, malware or virus infection, interruption while transferring the word file, CRC error, and more.
If the user tries to open the damaged encrypted file, a message pops up on the screen stating - “The file you are trying to open is corrupt.” But there is no need to freak out as plenty of effective solutions are available to fix encrypted word files on Windows. Keep scrolling the page and find out the practical approaches that resolve the error and let you access the document with ease.
Part 2: 3 Easy Way to Solve Encrypted Word Files
In the section, we will discuss 3 methods that are easy to follow and will fix encrypted word files on Windows. Also, our suggested tool-Wondershare is not just the first choice and it comes with various features that are very helpful.
Method 1: Easy Way To Fix Encrypted Word File On Window
Step 1: Start by opening MS office- Just double-tap the icon.
Step 2: Further click on the file menu at the top left corner.
Step 3: Under the file tab click ‘Open’, you will notice a new window will pop on the screen, just click on the file you want to open.
Step 4: From the drop-down arrow at the right side choose open and repair the encrypted file.
Step 5: The process will take a few seconds and you will be able to restore the encrypted word file.
Method 2: Try Wondershare Repairit – File Repair
Wondershare Repairit is a powerful third-party tool that can fix encrypted word files on Windows quickly. It can repair Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and PDF files. Carry out the procedure step by step and access the encrypted file with ease.
Highlighting some important features of using Wondershare File Repair Tool
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Repair damaged files with all levels of corruption, including blank files, files not opening, unreadable content, files layout changed, etc.
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Provide an easy fix option for text, images, font, hyperlinks, header, footer, etc.
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Perfectly repair corrupted files with a very high success rate, without modifying the original file.
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No limit to the number and size of the repairable files.
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Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.10~macOS 14.
Step 1: Upload the Files on Wondershare Repairit
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First of all, download and install the Wondershare Repairit tool on your PC and launch the application.
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After that, visit the "More Types Repair" section and choose "File Repair", then click on the “Add” button to load the encrypted files. The users can select multiple documents also
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The tool features an additional filter that notifies you about incompatible file formats to save you from further hassle.
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Once the documents are uploaded, the application will notify you of the same via a pop-up message.
If you have uploaded any file mistakenly, you can simply delete it by clicking on the “Trash” icon adjacent to the document.
You can also delete all files by tapping on the “Remove All” button from the bottom.
Step 2: Begin the File Repairing Process
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Click on the “Repair” button to get started. The tool will scan all the uploaded documents and fix encrypted word files on Windows. It also displays the progress of the repair process and allows you to cancel it if you wish to do so.
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Also, the application lets you know about the files that are being scanned, waiting to get repaired, or completed.
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Once the process is completed, Repairit will notify you of the same by displaying the pop-up message. A “Completed” sign will appear adjacent to those files repaired successfully.
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The application will also inform the users if it is unable to repair any of the uploaded documents by generating a relevant prompt. In such a case, you can connect with an expert to get assistance.
Step 3: Preview and Save the Repaired Files
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You can easily preview the file on the Repairit tool without installing any other application or software.
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Click on the “Save” button at the bottom to export the files. You can also tap on the “Save All” button to export all the files at once.
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The users will then choose the target location where they want to keep the repaired documents. The tool will then save all the files to the dedicated folder and display the status on the screen. It lets you know how many files are being exported by the application. You can then visit the folder where all the repaired files are stored to access them hassle-free.
This video can help you fix your files with a step-by-step guide.
The Wondershare Repairit tool is the most effective and user-friendly way to repair a corrupted or inaccessible file. Let us learn about yet another method to fix encrypted word files on Windows.
Attention:
If you want to repair word online and your corrupted word is no more than 300MB, you can try the online version of Repairit.
Method 3: Unlock Encrypted Without Password Manually
You can also fix encrypted word files on Windows by unlocking it manually without using a third-party tool or code editing. Follow the steps carefully to get the job done right.
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Firstly, open the encrypted word document and click on the “File” option.
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Tap on the “Save As” button from the drop-down menu and select the location where you wish to save the file.
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The Save As dialog box will appear on the screen and tap on the drop-down menu beside “Save As Type.”Choose the “Rich Text Format” option and tap on the Save button. Close the file after saving it in the Rich Text File format.
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Now, locate the newly-created RTF file and right-click on the same. Go to the “Open With” option in the context menu and select “Notepad.”
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Once the file is opened in the Notepad, press Ctrl + F to open the Find dialog box. There, you need to enter “passwordhash” and hit the Enter button or click on the Find Next option. Notepad will then search the entire document for the word you have typed. When you find the word, delete the whole string after “passwordhash”. Press Ctrl + S to save the file after editing it and close it.
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Open the file again and go to the Review tab on the top. Now, choose “Protect” and tap on the “Restrict Editing.”After that, click on the “Stop Protection” button at the bottom to fix encrypted word files on Windows. Finally, press Ctrl + S button and choose the Docx file format from the Save As dialog box to save the file.
Tips to Avoid
Although there are several ways to fix encrypted word files on Windows, the users can take some preventive measures to ensure that the document containing sensitive information will not get corrupted or damaged in the future. Here are listed some of the effective tips that you can follow to avoid the error.
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Transfer carefully: The file must be carefully transferred from one storage device to another to protect it from getting damaged. Never shut down the system or cross the window while the transfer process is going on.
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Backup file: Make sure to create a backup file for the encrypted document to ensure that if the file gets corrupted by chance, you still have the important information safe with you.
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Save: Always save the word file in an appropriate file format to avoid the loss of data.
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Turn off: Turn off the MS word application only after saving the document appropriately.
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Unreliable: Never use any unreliable software to encrypt your word file.
Closing Up
Owing to the staggering increase in data breach cases, file encryption is not just an option but a necessity of modern times. Sometimes, the encrypted files get damaged due to some possible reasons which make users unable to access them. Therefore, we’ve rounded off the best methods to fix the issue in the least possible time.
All the methods listed above are tried-and-tested and will surely resolve the problem. However, if you are looking for an effective approach to fix encrypted Word files on Windows, look no further than the Wondershare Repairit tool. Follow its three-step process to repair the documents in no time.
FAQs
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1. How do I decrypt an encrypted Word document?
To decrypt an encrypted word document, follow the step-by-step procedure given below. Go to the “Start” menu and select Programs or All Programs> Accessories> Windows Explorer. Now, right-click the document you want to decrypt and then tap on the “Properties”. Locate the “General” tab and click on “Advanced”. Untick the checkbox that says “Encrypt Contents to Secure Data” and click “Ok.” -
2. How do I repair a corrupted Docx File?
There are several ways to repair the corrupted Docx file, such as: Run the CHKDSK command to check the file system error Use in-built MS Word repair tool Recreate the file header Open the document in notepad However, if you are searching for a 100% working method, then install the Wondershare Repairit tool on your system and fix all documents with ease.
