Troubleshooting

What to Do If You Can't Open an Encrypted File

If you attempt to open a password-protected document, but see the message This document has been password protected with an encryption scheme not available in this region. Word cannot open this document., you may have set the Regional Settings on your Windows system to French.

By French law, French systems are not permitted to use encryption as strong as Word's standard encryption. Do the following:

  1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel.

  2. Double-click the Regional Settings icon.

  3. In the Regional Settings tab, click English (United States).

  4. Click OK.

  5. Restart your computer.

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