Dropbox on Android suddenly unable to open protected Word document

[eastpaw]

Hello. I've had the same password protected Word doc in my dropbox for years now.

On the same Android device I've been using for years as well, I am suddenly unable to open that file. When I try, I get a "File type not supported" error.

1. There is no "open with" option. There used to be one.
2. I have tried reinstalling, wiping cache and data, etc - Dropbox app as well as Office and Word apps.
3. I have tried unlinking and linking Office and Word to Dropbox. On my device as well as on the web.
4. I have tried saving the file to device.

There is nothing wrong with the file.

1. I can open it just fine from Dropbox PC.
2. I can also open it on my phone from the Word app.

When I try to open a non-protected Word doc, I get a preview. And only then does an "open with" option appear.

Solutions desired:

1. Setting Dropbox Android to open Word docs in the Word app by default rather than trying to give me a preview.
2. Also, reinstatement of the "open with" option outside of doc preview. (This has completely disappeared for all my Dropbox files, not just this one.)

[Hannah]

Sorry to jump in here, @llayen0314.

It seems that password protected files cannot actually be previewed through our mobile app.

For more info and workarounds, see this article.