How to Recover My Word Password

Software can help you locate your password.

Password-protecting your Word documents helps shield the data from prying eyes. However, if you lose the password, Microsoft isn't going to help you open the file. Microsoft Word 2007 and Word 2010 have such strong encryption that it's exceedingly difficult to crack the password. There is a small possibility that your document will be lost forever. However, purchasing a good password cracker can help increase the odds of finding the password and opening the file.

Instructions

1. Download the "Free Word / Excel Password Recovery Software" (See Resources). The software is freeware, which means you get the full product for no charge. The software works by brute forcing: testing your password against a database of billions of passwords. Let your computer run overnight since cracking your password may take a very long time.

2. Click on the link to "Rixler: Word Password Recovery Master" (See Resources). This shareware is available for a free trial and will crack passwords created in all versions of Word, including .docx files. The software resides on the company's server, not your computer. What this means to you as a user is that you can expect to recover your password in seconds, not the usual several hours it would take a program saved on your PC. Word Password Recovery is recommended for any type of passwords, including long passwords with special characters.

3. Navigate to the "ElcomSoft: Advanced Office Password Recovery" link (See Resources). ElcomSoft's software will crack passwords for all versions of Word, up to Word 2007. The software promises to find a password that not only opens a Word document. It also can find passwords for modifying and protecting documents. If you've lost a Visual Basic for Applications password in your Word document, then the application can attempt to recover it. Depending on the complexity of your password, the software may take anywhere from a few seconds to many hours to find the password.

Tips & Warnings

• Start the password recovery software in the evening, after you have finished using your computer for the day. If you start the software during the day, it may tie up your computer for hours.

References

• Microsoft: You Cannot Recover a Document That is Protected With a Password if The Password is Lost in Word
• Oraxcel: How Strong is Microsoft Word Encryption

Resources

• Free Word / Excel Password Recovery Software: Home Page
• Rixler: Office Password Recovery Toolbox
• Elcomsoft: Password Recovery Software