How to turn off Protected View in Office 2013 to edit files

Protected View helps protect users from malicious files but can be annoying when editing documents. Here's how to turn off Protected View in Office 2013 to work more efficiently.

Disable Protected View in Office 2013

Note: You can do the same on Office 2010.

Step 1: Open Word 2013 and select the File Menu (Image below)

How to turn off Protected View in Office 2013 to edit files Picture 1

Step 2: Next select Options (Image below)

How to turn off Protected View in Office 2013 to edit files Picture 2

Step 3: Go to Trust Center and select "Trust Center Settings." (Image below)

How to turn off Protected View in Office 2013 to edit files Picture 3

Step 4: Here you find "Protected View" (Image below)

How to turn off Protected View in Office 2013 to edit files Picture 4

Step 5: Here you uncheck all 3 optional drives and then click OK to finish (Image below)

How to turn off Protected View in Office 2013 to edit files Picture 5

So, you have successfully disabled Protected View in Office 2013. This feature helps protect users from files that may contain malicious code from the Internet. However, if you often work with Word, Excel files downloaded from emails or trusted sources, disabling Protected View can make editing documents more convenient. In addition, you can also adjust other settings in the Trust Center of Office 2013 to enhance security and optimize the user experience.

Lesley Montoya

Update 25 February 2025