Free file diagnostic

Free file protection analyzer

Use the file protection analyzer to separate open passwords from worksheet, editing and PDF permission restrictions before choosing a recovery method.

File triage

What kind of protection does this file use?

Upload a file to distinguish an open password from a removable editing or permission restriction.

+Choose an Office, PDF or archive fileMaximum 3 MB · DOC(X), XLS(X), PPT(X), PDF, RAR, ZIP or 7zI own this file or have authorization to recover it.

Use the diagnosis

Send each protection type to the right recovery path

Supported editing and permission restrictions can be removed directly. Open passwords require candidate testing, starting with the free desktop workflow.

Download the desktop app Compare GPU cloud plans

Protection is not one problem

Find out whether the file needs a password search at all

A file that will not open and a file that opens but blocks editing are different recovery cases. The file protection analyzer checks the document or archive structure first, so an editing restriction is not incorrectly sent to a password-cracking queue.

For supported modern Office files, the analyzer looks for encrypted-package markers and XML protection settings. PDF files are checked for open-password encryption versus permissions that still allow the document to open. Encrypted archive entries are routed to password recovery.

Practical guide

How the file protection analyzer classifies supported files

Possible results

What the file protection analyzer reports

The file protection analyzer explains the detected protection type and presents the relevant next action. Detection does not recover or display the original password.

Detected condition	What it means	Recommended next step
Open password	The file contents cannot be opened without the password	Extract a recovery hash
Editing restriction	The document opens but editing or workbook changes are blocked	Remove the restriction directly
PDF permissions	The PDF opens but printing, copying or editing is limited	Use the PDF restriction remover
No supported protection	No supported encryption or restriction marker was found	No password recovery is needed

Office documents

Office open passwords and editing protection use different structures

As an Office password protection checker, the analyzer looks for structures that identify how access is blocked. An encrypted modern Office document is a compound file containing EncryptionInfo and EncryptedPackage streams. That is an open-password case and requires candidate testing.

An XLSX worksheet with sheetProtection, an XLSX workbook with workbookProtection, or a DOCX documentProtection setting can often be handled as a restriction-removal task without finding the original password.

Word: checks document opening encryption separately from document editing protection.
Excel: distinguishes encrypted workbooks from worksheet and workbook structure protection.
PowerPoint: checks opening encryption separately from supported modify restrictions.
Legacy DOC, XLS and PPT files may require deeper desktop inspection.

PDF and archives

Detect PDF password protection separately from permissions

To detect PDF password protection correctly, the analyzer checks whether the PDF opens with an empty user password. A file that opens may still contain owner-password permissions, and supported printing, copying and editing limits can be removed without recovering an unknown opening password.

ZIP, RAR and 7z encryption protects archive contents. When encrypted entries are detected, the next step is to extract a recovery hash and test candidate passwords.

Privacy boundary

Temporary server analysis with a 3 MB limit

The web analyzer accepts supported files up to 3 MB. The temporary file is deleted after analysis finishes and the response is marked no-store. You must confirm that you own the file or have authorization to recover it.

For larger or sensitive files, use the desktop application and keep supported analysis and restriction-removal work on the local computer.

Questions about this tool

Frequently asked questions

Does the file protection analyzer recover my password?

No. The file protection analyzer identifies whether the file needs open-password recovery, direct restriction removal, or no supported action. Password candidate testing is a separate step.

Can an Excel worksheet password be removed without finding it?

For supported XLSX sheetProtection and workbookProtection restrictions, the desktop workflow can remove the relevant XML restriction without recovering the original password.

How does the analyzer recognize an Office open password?

Modern encrypted Office files use EncryptionInfo and EncryptedPackage streams and produce an Office recovery hash. These are different from worksheet or editing-protection XML tags.

Can it distinguish a PDF open password from PDF permissions?

Where qpdf can open the file with an empty user password, the file is treated as a permissions case. If opening requires a user password and a supported hash exists, it is routed to password recovery.

Is the uploaded file stored?

The analyzer writes a temporary file only for the current check and deletes it before returning the result. Responses are marked no-store.

Why does a legacy Office file recommend desktop inspection?

Older DOC, XLS and PPT formats can use protection structures that are less reliable to classify from a lightweight web check. The desktop application can perform a deeper local inspection.