Quick answer: Open the file, go to File > Save As, pick a new name or overwrite the original, then check File > Info > Protect Document and the file's Properties to clear any remaining read-only flags.
You've just removed password protection from a Word document, but when you open it, Word still nags you with "Read-Only Recommended" in the title bar. You didn't re-add the password, so why is it still there? The short answer: Word stores that recommendation in two places — the document's internal settings and the file's attributes. Removing the password only clears the encryption, not the checkbox that says "Read-only recommended." And sometimes the file itself is marked read-only on disk, which adds to the confusion.
This is a common gotcha in Word 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365. The setting is independent of the password — it's a separate flag that tells Word, "Hey, when this opens, suggest the user not edit it." If you didn't uncheck that box before saving, or if the flag got set by mistake (e.g., from a document property or a previous save), you'll keep seeing the prompt.
Fix 1: Clear the Read-Only Recommended Checkbox (The Main Fix)
- Open the document in Word.
- Go to File > Save As.
- Pick a location and name for the file. You can overwrite the original — that's fine.
- Before clicking Save, look for a small arrow next to the Save button. Click it and choose Tools > General Options.
- In the dialog that pops up, you'll see a checkbox labeled Read-only recommended. If it's checked, uncheck it.
- Also check the Password to modify field — if there's a password there, clear it too.
- Click OK, then Save.
That's the direct fix. The tricky part is that many people skip the Save As step and just remove the password via File > Info > Protect Document — that doesn't touch the read-only recommendation. You have to go through Save As to access General Options.
Fix 2: Check File Properties (When Save As Doesn't Work)
If the prompt still shows up after Fix 1, the file itself might be marked read-only on disk. Right-click the file in File Explorer and select Properties. At the bottom, under the Attributes section, uncheck the Read-only box. Click Apply and OK.
This is especially common if you downloaded the file from an email or a network drive. Windows marks those as read-only by default when they come from an untrusted location. Also, check if the file is in a folder that's marked read-only — that can override everything.
Fix 3: Clear the Mark of the Web (For Downloaded Files)
Downloaded files often carry a hidden metadata tag called "Mark of the Web" (MOTW). It doesn't directly cause the read-only recommendation, but it can make Word treat the file as protected. To clear it:
- Right-click the file and choose Properties.
- Look for a Security section at the bottom. If you see a message like "This file came from another computer," click Unblock.
- Click Apply and then OK.
If you don't see that option, you can strip MOTW with PowerShell:
Unblock-File -Path "C:\path\to\yourfile.docx"Fix 4: Use Word's Built-In Repair
If none of that clears it, the document might be slightly corrupted. Not "blue screen" corrupted, but the internal XML that stores settings might be off. Open Word, go to File > Open, select the file, and instead of clicking Open, click the dropdown arrow next to it and choose Open and Repair.
This often rebuilds the settings and clears the read-only flag. It's a good last resort before you start pulling hairs.
Why This Happens (The Annoying Details)
Here's what's going on under the hood. Word stores the "Read-only recommended" flag in the document settings as a simple boolean. When you remove the password, Word doesn't reset that flag — it only removes the encryption. The flag stays at whatever it was. So if you accidentally checked that box when you first saved the file, it's still there.
Another trigger: if you open a file that was sent to you as an attachment, and the sender had set the file as read-only recommended (maybe they were being cautious), then you remove the password, but the flag is still embedded.
Also, some third-party PDF converters or document management systems set this flag when they export a Word file — they assume you want it read-only. It's a lazy default, and it drives me up the wall.
Prevention Tip
To avoid this headache going forward, always use Save As > Tools > General Options when you're working with password-protected files. Before you save, double-check both checkboxes — "Password to open" and "Read-only recommended." If you don't need read-only, keep it unchecked.
And if you're the one sending files, don't set read-only recommended unless you really need it. It's like putting a "Do Not Touch" sign on a public bench — people will ignore it or get annoyed.
One more thing: if you're dealing with a batch of files that all have this issue, you can write a quick VBA macro to clear the flag, but that's overkill for most people. Stick with Fix 1, and you'll be fine.