User Does Not Have Access Privileges for MS Word – Resolved

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  • Published on
    December 29th, 2018
  • Updated on
    September 5, 2023
  • Read Time
    5 minutes
Summary:- Microsoft Word is a widely used program for creating and editing documents. It keeps getting better with regular updates, making it more user-friendly and accessible. However, some users encounter a common issue where they can’t open a Word file. The error message they see says, “Word Cannot Open the Document: User Does Not Have Access Privileges.” So here you can see the various techniques to resolve this issue and use the VBA Password Recovery Tool if your Word file is locked.
word cannot open the document

The error basically states that you do not have enough privileges to view the content. This error can pop up when you try to transfer files from one computer to another computer when you try to update the Word client, or when your password protects the files. Once that happens, is there any way to resolve Word denies opening the document? Actually yes there is.

5 Quick Methods to Resolve the Access Privilege Issue of Word Files

This post explains the major methods to fix this error: Word Cannot Open the Document: User Does Not Have Access Privileges.

Let’s have a look!

  1. Change Deny Permissions
  2. Remove Properties and Personal Information
  3. Copy the Document to Another Location
  4. Force Word to Recover Your Document
  5. Check Anti-Virus Software

Method #1. Change Word File Permissions

The error message generally appears if your document has been saved with certain permissions. When you are trying to open a Word file that requires specific user permission then this popup means you must be an authorized user to access the file with some permissions. Consequently, you are suggested to change the word file permissions, by following the steps explained below:

  1. Right-click on the Word file that is giving the error popup message, and choose “Properties”.
  2. It will bring you to a properties window, Select the Security tab> Click on Advanced (You can also click on edit)button.
    open properties
  3. From the next window Click on Add button.add word permissions
  4. Click on Select a principal.
  5. Click on the Advanced button and find the permissions.
  6. Select Authenticated Users and OK.
    get authenticated word users
  7. Click on OK again to finalize the selection in the current windows.
  8. Now check the Full Control option,> OK.full control for word doc
  9. Apply and OK to apply for permission on the Word file.

Method #2. Remove Properties and Personal Information

Many of the users get great help while removing the properties and personal information and you are able to access the document easily. So you might as well attempt it as the following process is:

  1. In the word file “Properties”> select the Detail tab
  2. In the Detail section click on “Remove Properties and Personal Information“.change proterties personal details
  3. Now check the “Create a copy with all possible properties removed” option in the new window.
  4. Click on the “OK” button and finally launch your Word document.

Method #3. Copy the Word Document to another Location

In many situations, a Word cannot open the document on one hard drive, but when moved to another hard drive, it could be opened with an access denied error or other issues. Just right-click on the file, Copy & paste it on to another hard drive at some new location. At last, check out if this solution is working for you.

Method #4. Force Word file to Recover Your Document

Among almost every error in Microsoft Office Word documents, you are also suggested to try the “Open and Repair” feature of the document to repair the corruption of selected Word Documents (show error; “Word Cannot Open the Document: User Does Not Have Access Privileges”). Restart it again and see if you are able to access the document again.

Method #5. Check Anti-Virus Software

There are many Anti-viruses that have a feature to automatically protect folders and cause access problems like word errors which we are discussing. Every antivirus program has a different method to protect or unprotect a folder or tends to automatically add to the protected list. In your particular antivirus application do check that your document is not protected, restart the computer and access the document again.

Make sure that the folder isn’t protected, restart your computer and try accessing the document again.

You may also read to read: Retrieve Deleted Word file for Free

Extra Tips: Word Cannot Open the Document: Password Protected

Sometimes you are not able to access the Word document file as it is secured by a password and you forget the password. In such cases, do you need to recover the lost password? For this, you are suggested by a professional VBA Password Recovery tool by SysInfoTools. The software provides you with a feature to retrieve a Word password successfully and get access to the Word file with the password. No matter what Microsoft you are using the software can successfully recover passwords from Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and Access databases.

Final Words

So that’s all about the solution to how to fix the “Word cannot open the document: user does not have access privileges” error. Does it help you? Do comment for any query. Thanks for reading.

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