Resolve User Does not Have Access Privileges Issue in MS Word


Are you getting user does not have access privileges error while opening a word document in your Windows OS? If yes, don't panic because there is a solution for this. This very error is associated with a MS word file applications and occurs when a particular file is either protected or is encrypted by some sort of password. This kind of issue mainly occurs when a user upgrades his or her OS to a higher version and try to transfer the previous word files into the new installed OS. Normally it has been observed that this kind of error can happen within any operating system no matter obsolete or latest.

Let's elaborate more about this error. This error completely appears as shown below

"Word can't open the document: user does not have access privileges"

Generally on encountering this very error, users seem to panic very much and try all the man made solution to get rid of the problem as soon as possible. The easiest solution that is adopted in such a situation is un-installing and reinstall the MS Office suite into the computer. Although, this is a such a fantastic solution and works simply great but it is time taking and can waste your lot of hours considering that you being a professional. Second thing is that if you don't have a backup of the file, probably you can easily lose your word document in such a case.


User does not have access privileges Error: The solution

As mentioned before, this error generally happens if the word file is protected with a password and you don't have sufficient rights or the key to unlock it up. Now, the solution is to take ownership of the file for which the error is appearing up. In order to perform this, first things that you need to do is to be logged in as the administrator and open the Windows in safe mode. Now in order claim the access rights again, try to go through these steps

  • Select the file which is protected or restricted and then right click → Properties
  • Click the tab named Security and then tap the Advanced button
  • Now under there, select the Owner Tab and go through the Name List
  • Select Administrators Group or Administrator and then → OK

The file is all yours and you can now easily get access to the file that was previously either restricted to get into.

But certain times, the problem is something else and is not related to the ownership of the file. If a file or complete document set is corrupted or infected then also you might get user does not have access privileges error frequently. In this very situation, the chances of data loss is very much high. But not to worry or panic. If you have this very problem, then the best dissolution for this is to pick third party docx repair software.