Applies to: Microsoft Excel 2010, PowerPoint 2010, Word 2010

Files from the Internet and from other potentially unsafe locations can contain viruses, worms, or other kinds of malware, which can harm your computer. To help protect your computer, files from these potentially unsafe locations are opened in Protected View. By using Protected View, you can read a file and inspect its contents while reducing the risks that can occur.



What do you want to do?

• Why is my file opening in Protected View?
• How do I exit Protected View?
• Why can't I exit Protected View?
• Problem detected with a file.
• View or modify Protected View settings in the Trust Center.
• Protected View settings explained
• What happens to add-ins in Protected View?

Why is my file opening in Protected View?



Protected View is a read-only mode in which most editing functions have been disabled. There are several reasons why a file opens in Protected View:

• The file was opened from an Internet location When you encounter the message in Protected View that states This file originated from an Internet location and might be unsafe. Click for more details. this is because the file is being opened from the Internet. Files from the Internet can have viruses and other harmful content embedded in them. We recommend that you edit only the document, if you trust its contents. The following image is an example:

• The file was received as an Outlook 2010 attachment and your computer policy has defined the sender as unsafe When you encounter the message in Protected View that states This file originated as an e-mail attachment and might be unsafe. Click for more details. this is because the file was received from a potentially unsafe sender. The following image is an example:

• The file was opened from an unsafe location When you encounter the message in Protected View that states This file was opened from a potentially unsafe location. Click for more details. the file was opened from a folder that is unsafe. An example of an unsafe location is your Temporary Internet Files folder. The following image is an example:

• The file is blocked by File Block . What is File Block? The following images are examples:

Editing is not allowed.



Editing is allowed.

• File validation failure When you encounter a message in Protected View that states Office has detected a problem with this file. Editing it may harm your computer. Click for more details. it has occurred because the file did not pass file validation. The following image is an example:

Note You can learn more about file validation failures in Problem detected with a file.

• The file was opened in Protected View by using the Open in Protected View option. When you encounter the message in Protected View that states This file was opened in Protected View. Click for more details. this is because you chose to open the file in Protected View. This can be done by using the Open in Protected View option:
  1. Click the File tab.
  2. In the Microsoft Office Backstage view, click Open.
  3. On the Open dialog, click the arrow on the Open button.
  4. From the list, select Open in Protected View.

The following image is an example of Protected View appearing when Open in Protected View is selected.

Important System administrators can extend the list of potentially unsafe locations to include additional folders also considered unsafe.
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How do I exit Protected View?

If you must read the file, and don't have to edit it, you can remain in Protected View. If you know the file is from a trustworthy source, and you want to edit, save, or print the file, then you can exit Protected View. After you leave Protected View, it becomes a trusted document.
Exit Protected View and edit when the yellow Message Bar appears

• On the Message Bar, click Enable Editing.

Exit Protected View and edit when the red Message Bar appears

1. Click the File tab. The Backstage view appears.
2. Click Edit Anyway.

Important The Edit Anyway button appears in the Backstage view, indicating there is more risk when you enable editing from this mode. We recommend caution and certainty that the file's source is reliable and known to you. See Problem detected with a file for more information.

Source -
What is Protected View? - Excel - Microsoft Office

Posted By: JMH
17 Jun 2010