One of my files is password protected but when I try to access it via Dropbox.com on my PC I put in my password but it says that it is incorrect. It is not incorrect. I can access the file via my Tablet. Thank you.

HiThe file is a Word document (.doc) and I am trying to access it from Dropbox.com through my browser on my PCWhen I open the file I am asked for the password but it says it is an incorrect password. When I open the file via the App on my Tablet it accepts the correct password.Thanks. John

Sorry to jump in here, sz999. If you open the file through its original app and remove the password, are you then able to preview it on our website? Generally, password protected files cannot be previewed on our website, so you might need to do that to preview them. You can see more info about this here.

Hi Hannah,Thank you, I didn’t realize that. I haven’t removed the password because I know I can open files that aren’t password-protected, but I want to keep this one protected.I realize you don’t control the policies, but what’s the logic behind not being able to open pw protected files in a browser? If it can’t be done, why does it even ask for the pw (rather than just show a message that says pw protected files are unsupported), and why does it then tell me the pw is wrong? It seems strange to ask for the info, when no pw would be accepted — asking for one and giving an error message implies it’s possible to open a pw file and that either there’s a bug or the user is doing something wrong, which is apparently not the case. Again, I appreciate this info; do you know if there’s a way to communicate with dropbox to let them know how uninformative and confusing the way it works now is? Thank again for explaining why it won’t / can’t work

Hi johnblakemore, thanks for messaging the Community! What type of file are you trying to access? Are you accessing it from the site, or downloading it and opening it in a specific app? This will help me to assist further!

Hey johnblakemore, sorry to jump in here! Have you tried a different browser in order to preview your file? Can you give it a go and let me know how it goes? I'll be waiting for the results.

Can't open password protected file | The Dropbox Community

56 Replies

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Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Thanks for the screenshot, John - most appreciated!

May I reach out via email to have a further look internally?
johnblakemore
Helpful | Level 7
4 years ago
Thank you.
[removed per the Community's Guidelines]
John
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
No biggie, John. I'll be glad to help out with this.

I just followed up via email, so please have a look at your inbox and we'll take it from there.
johnblakemore
Helpful | Level 7
4 years ago
Can’t find your post?
John
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Hey johnblakemore, I just sent you another email.

Could you have a look at your inbox and let me know if you received my message this time?
johnblakemore
Helpful | Level 7
4 years ago
Yes received.
John
JimL from HB
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago
I am having the same exact issue. I can open the file from the Dropbox folder in File Explorer on my desktop computer, but when I use that same computer to access DropBox via the Web to look at version history of the Word doc, the password isn't recognized. This locks me out of being able to see the version history, which I need.
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Hi JimL from HB, you don't need a file password to access the version history of any file on Dropbox.

Are you referring to a password on the file itself, or the password to your Dropbox account online?
JimL from HB
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago
Hi Jay,

The original file is password protected in Microsoft Word. When I attempt to open the version history in DropBox on the Web (the only way I can access Version History, as far as I can tell), it prompts me for the file password (not my DropBox password, as I am already logged in on my desktop). However, the correct file-specific password does not work (I've tried this on several different files), and - just to say I've tried it - neither does the DropBox password.
Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Sorry to jump in here, JimL from HB.

Have you tried this from a different browser, or from a private browsing window, to see if you get a different behavior?

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Can't open password protected file

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