Gmail & Password Protected Word Files

TL;DR

No, Gmail cannot directly open password-protected .docx files. You’ll need to remove the password before you can upload and view it in Gmail.

How to Open a Password Protected .docx File with Gmail

1. Remove the Password: The core issue is that Gmail doesn’t have built-in functionality to decrypt password-protected Word documents. You *must* unlock the file first.
   • If you know the password: Open the .docx file in Microsoft Word (or a compatible program like Google Docs – see step 2). Word will prompt you for the password. Enter it to open and then save the file without password protection.
     File > Info > Protect Document > Encrypt with Password, remove the existing password and set a new one or leave blank.
   • If you’ve forgotten the password: This is much harder. See section ‘What if I forgot my Word document password?’ below.
2. Open in Google Docs (if possible): If you have a newer .docx file, try opening it directly in Google Docs.
   1. Go to Google Docs and click the ‘+’ icon to create a new document.
   2. Select ‘Upload’ and choose your password-protected .docx file. If it’s *not* heavily secured, Google Docs might prompt you for the password (and then open it).
   3. Once opened in Google Docs, save as a standard Google Doc format (.gdoc) or download as a .docx without password protection.
      File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx).
3. Upload to Gmail: Once the file is unlocked (password removed), you can attach it to an email in Gmail like any other file.
   1. Compose a new email in Gmail.
   2. Click ‘Attach Files’.
   3. Select the now-unprotected .docx file from your computer.
   4. Send your email.

What if I forgot my Word document password?

Recovering a forgotten password is difficult and not always successful. Here are some options:

• Password Recovery Tools: There are third-party tools designed to attempt password recovery for Word documents. Be *very* cautious when using these, as many are scams or contain malware. Research thoroughly before downloading anything.
  Example (use at your own risk): PassFab for Word.
• Brute Force Attack: Some tools try every possible combination of characters until the password is found. This can take a very long time, especially with complex passwords.
• Microsoft Account Recovery: If you saved the document to OneDrive and linked it to your Microsoft account, you might be able to recover access through Microsoft’s account recovery process.
  Microsoft Support
• Professional Data Recovery Services: For critical documents, consider a professional data recovery service. This is usually the most expensive option but offers the best chance of success.

Important Note: Attempting to bypass password protection on a document you do not own or have permission to access may be illegal.