If you’ve ever opened a Microsoft Word document and possibly found yourself and Ms Word showing , “You can’t make this change because the selection is locked” or “Unable to edit because the section is blocked”. This is a common problem that can come to a standstill your workflow. Don’t worry though, most of them fix themselves.
If Word blocks editing is something that is puzzling, why do you have Word blocks editing, what does Word blocks editing mean, and how can you unlock Word blocks editing so you can go back to work?
What Does ‘The Section is Blocked’ Mean?
When Microsoft Word says that a section is blocked, a section often means it has some restrictions applied to it. This stops editing, formating changes, or even copying content.This may occur for a number of reasons.
- The protection status of the document is restricted or protected.
- The document is read only.
- Prevented from no modification it’s been digitally signed.
- Your file is in trial version or expired license.
- This document is contained in an workspace or template that has restrictions on who can use it.
Common Causes and Fixes
1. Document Protection Is Enabled
Document are protected a number of times to hold structure, or at least to stop off unauthorized changes.
Fix:
- Go to the Review tab.
- Click on Restrict Editing.
- Click Stop Protection (you may need a password), if restrictions are enabled.
- Should you do not have the password to open the document, then you would have to talk to the document owner.
2. Document is in Read-Only Mode
Word will sometimes open documents read only, when they come from email attachments, when they come from the web, or when they are in OneDrive or SharePoint.
Fix:
- For this, we need to click File > Info > Protect Document.
- Make sure that ‘Always open read only’ is not checked.
- File > Save as will save a copy with a new name.
3. Group Policy has Locked the Section
Group policy allows IT admins to lock sections of templates or documents in corporate environments.
Unfortunately, if this is the case, you will have to contact your IT department.
4. Trial Version or Expired License
Features like editing may be disabled if you’re using an unactivated version of Microsoft Office.
Fix:
- Go to File > Account.
- See if your Office is activated.
- Otherwise, activate it with your license key or with your Microsoft account.
5. Digital Signature Present
Some documents may be signed digitally and its editing may be restricted to ensure authenticity.
Fix:
- As you’re allowed to remove the signature, you’ll have to do that.
- Then in File > Info > View Signatures, remove it.
However, this will invalidate the signature.
Tips to Avoid Future Issues
- Separate save editable templates with final versions.
- Do not edit on email attachments directly – instead, save them first.
- When working together, employ Track Changes or Comments not Lock sections.
- Ensure the Office is updated and licensed.
Final Words
Annoying as it is to run into a “section is blocked” message in MS Word, it isn’t usually the end of the world. Most of the time by finding the reason; whether it’s protection settings, document permissions or licensing issue you can fix the issue in a few steps.
You can also read:
Common Microsoft Word Issues and How to Troubleshoot Them?
Fix Microsoft Word Not Responding with These Quick Solutions
