User Does Not Have Access Privileges’ Error? Fixes Are Here!

Summary: ‘User does not have access privileges’ error in Windows 7 or any other version? We offer 6 solutions. Try them, or simply choose the ultimate solution – guaranteed to work, with Stellar Repair for Word.

Word Cannot Open The Document: User Does Not Have Access Privileges – What Does the Error Mean?

This frustrating error message, “Word cannot open the document: user does not have access privileges,” is trying to tell you one simple thing: you don’t currently have permission to open, view, or edit the Word file you’re trying to work with.

Table of Content:

• Reasons for “User does not have access privileges in Microsoft Word”

1. Solution 1 – Get access privileges
2. Solution 2 – Remove properties and personal information
3. Solution 3 – Check your device’s antivirus
4. Solution 4 – Change the document’s location
5. Solution 5 – Try a different application
6. Solution 6 – Force Word to repair and open the file
7. Solution 7 – Change the Word File Deny Permissions
8. Solution 8 — Change the Inherit from Parent Entries Option

• The Ultimate Solution – Try Windows Data Recovery software
• How to fix “User does not have access privileges” on Mac?

Reasons for “User does not have Access Privileges in Microsoft Word”

The “Word cannot open the document: User does not have access privileges” error can arise on both Windows and Mac devices.

The error message simply means that you do not have permission to read or edit the said document. However, sometimes, the error message can pop up even if you have access to it.

Some of the Common Reasons Why You Might be Getting the Error Include:

1. Transferring files – If you moved the file from a different computer, external drive, or online storage service, the file’s permissions might not have been transferred correctly.

2. Word updates – Updates to Microsoft Word can sometimes reset file permissions.

3. Encrypted files – Files that have been encrypted for security reasons require specific permissions or a unique password to open.

4. Corrupted file – If the Word file itself is damaged, you might see this error even if you technically have the right permissions.

No matter why you are getting the “User does not have access privileges” in Microsoft Word error, here are 6 quick and easy ways to fix it.

Solution 1 – Get Access Privileges

Let us assume that you indeed do not have access to the document. In that case, you can easily make the error message go away and access the file by getting access privileges.

Here is how to grant access privileges in Microsoft Word –

1 – Right click on the file that is showing the error message.

2 – Select the Properties tab.

3 – Click on the Security tab.

4 – Navigate to the Advanced option.

5 – In the Permissions tab, click on the Add button.

6 – Click on “Select a Principle” option.

7 – Click on Advanced.

8 – Start searching for the User/Group.

9 – Click on “Find Now”

10 – You will see a list of all Authenticated Users.

11 – Click OK.

12 – Check all the boxes

13 – Click OK to close all the dialogue boxes.

Now you know how to grant access privileges in Microsoft Word. And you have all the permissions related to the said file. And you should be able to open it. Without getting the “Word cannot open the document: User does not have access privileges” message.

If you are still getting the same message, read on and try the other solutions.

Solution 2 – Remove Properties and Personal Information

1 – Right click on the file that you are getting the error message on.

2 – Click on Properties.

3 – Go to the Details tab.

4 – Click on “Remove Properties and Personal Information”.

5 – Check the “Create a copy with all possible properties removed” option.

6 – Click OK to close the dialogue box.

Now try opening the file again. If the problem still persists, keep reading.

Solution 3 – Check your Device’s Antivirus

A lot of antiviruses also cause Word cannot open the document Access privileges on Windows 7 and other versions of Windows.

If you have an antivirus installed on your system. Check of the file you wish to open is listed in the protected files category. If yes, try removing the file from the protected list.

You should then be able to open the file without the “Word cannot open the document: User does not have access privileges” popup.

Solution 4 – Change the Document’s Location

Sometimes changing the Word document’s location on your device can also get the problem to go away. Here’s how to go about that:

Step 1 – Copy the file that is showing the error by either pressing Ctrl + C or clicking right and then selecting the Copy option.

Step 2 – Go to another drive on your device and paste the file.. You can either press Ctrl + V or right click and select the Paste option.

Solution 5 – Try a Different Application

Sometimes there can be compatibility issues between Word and your file. This might be causing the error message.

To still open the file you can try using other document opening applications. You can try Google Docs, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice to open the document and access it.

Solution 6 – Force Word to Repair and Open the File

Just like with any other Word error, you get an option to Open and Repair the file when you get the Word cannot open the document: User does not have access privileges error.

This option repairs the corrupted Word files and lets you access them normally. 

Once you have selected this option, restart Word and try accessing the file.

Solution 7 – Change the Word File Deny Permissions

Sometimes, a Word file might prevent all users from accessing it due to its deny permissions settings. Here’s how you can adjust these permissions:

1. Right-click on the problematic Word file and choose Properties.
2. Navigate to the Security tab.
3. Press Edit to modify permissions.
4. Find and check the box for Full control under the Allow section.
5. Hit Apply to save changes.
6. Click OK to exit.

Solution 8 — Change the Inherit from Parent Entries Option

By default, Word documents inherit permissions from their parent folder, which usually simplifies file management. However, this can sometimes lead to access issues. Here’s what you can do:

1. Right-click on the Word document and select Properties.
2. Switch to the Security tab and then click on Advanced.
3. Choose to Disable inheritance.
4. Press Apply.
5. Click OK to confirm the changes.

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If none of the aforementioned fixes for Word can open the document: The user does not have access privileges Windows 10 worked for you, your file might be corrupted beyond ordinary repair. Does that mean you’ll lose all your data? Absolutely not.

The Stellar Data Repair for MS Word has got you covered.

 

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You can download the free trial version to first preview the file that will be recovered and later on upgrade to premium to actually recover the Word file.

How to fix “User Does Not Have Access Privileges” on Mac?

Wondering how to fix the user who does not have access privileges on Mac.

Don’t worry. The methods mentioned above for Windows work for Mac You can try to change the access permissions or change the file location. You can also use other document-opening applications to access the file. 

Here are more detailed instructions.

Fix 1: Reset User Home Folder Permissions and ACLs via Terminal

If your Mac denies access to a Word document, resetting your home folder’s permissions might help.

1. Start your Mac in Recovery Mode.
2. Open Terminal from the Utilities menu.
3. Type reset password and press Return.

After your Mac restarts, try opening the Word file again.

If this method solves the problem, there’s no need to proceed further. However, if the issue persists, let’s move on to the next solution.

Fix 2: Repair Permissions via Disk Utility

Another way to tackle the cannot open word document on mac access privileges issue is by repairing permissions.

1. Close all open applications on your Mac.
2. Restart your Mac and immediately hold down the Shift key until you see the progress bar.
3. Release the Shift key when the login window appears.
4. Log in to your account, and let the system complete its loading process.
5. Attempt to open the Word document again after the restart.
6. Should this fix not do the trick, there’s one more method to try.

Fix 3: Create A New User Account and Open Word in the New User Account

Sometimes, creating a new user account can bypass the access issue.

1. Go to the Apple menu, select System Preferences, and then Users & Groups.
2. Click the Add (+) button to create a new account.
3. Choose Administrator as the account type for full access.
4. Fill in the new account details and click Create User.
5. Log in to this new account and try to access the Word document from there.

In case these steps don’t resolve the issue, reaching out to Microsoft Office’s support team could offer more personalized assistance.

FAQs

1. What causes the Word cannot open the document: user does not have access privileges error?

This error usually happens when Word believes you lack permission to open a document.

2. Can I fix the access privileges error on a Mac just like on Windows?

Yes, Mac users can use similar methods like resetting folder permissions and creating a new user account to fix the error.

3. Will changing the file’s location help solve the access privileges issue in Word?

Sometimes, moving the Word document to a different folder or drive can bypass the access permissions problem.

4. What should I do if I still can’t open a Word document after trying suggested fixes?

If all else fails, contacting Microsoft Office support can provide further assistance with the access privileges error.

5. Is it possible to prevent the cannot open word document on mac access privileges issue?

Regularly updating Word and managing file permissions carefully can minimize the chances of encountering this error.