Where is the Enable Editing function in Word?

Word sometimes opens files in Protected View, a read‑only mode that prevents editing for safety. To make changes, select the yellow banner at the top of the document and click Enable Editing. Once enabled, the document refreshes in editing mode so you can write, review, or format as usual.

Key points

  • Protected View helps block potentially unsafe files opened from email or the web.
  • If the banner is not visible, check the top of the window or trust center settings.
  • Click Enable Editing to switch from read‑only to editable mode and continue working.

See also:
Editing Services
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