Remove All Editing Exceptions in a Protected Word Document in WPS Writer
Question details
The user needs to remove every editing exception from a restricted Word document without manually clearing dozens of exception fields.
- Product
- WPS Writer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A protected Word document contains multiple regional editing exceptions, and the user wants to re-protect the whole document so no exception areas remain.
- Observed behavior
- Word/WPS does not show a one-click command in the standard interface to remove all editing exceptions at once, so manually clearing each exception is time-consuming.
Check the document protection password and identify whether the document contains content controls or legacy form fields before changing the restriction method or running a macro.
Change the editing restriction type to Filling in forms
Use this method when the document does not contain content controls or legacy form fields; it re-applies protection in a way that locks the whole document without keeping the old exception ranges.
The Filling in forms restriction allows no unrestricted editing except inside content controls or legacy form fields. If the document has none of those objects, this effectively clears exception-based editing across the document.
Open the protected document in WPS Writer, go to the Review tab, and click Restrict Editing.
In the Restrict Editing pane, locate the Editing restrictions section, check “Allow only this type of editing in the document,” and select Filling in forms from the dropdown list.
Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection, enter a password if required, and save the document.
Clear all exception ranges with a VBA macro
Use this method when the document has many exception ranges or contains fields that make the Filling in forms method unsuitable.
Remove Editing Exceptions Easily in WPS Writer
WPS Writer lets you open a protected Word document, switch the editing restriction to Filling in forms, or use a macro to clear exception ranges, then re-protect the file without manually clicking every field.
- 1. Open the document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office, open the protected Word document, and enter the protection password when prompted.
- 2. Stop existing protection: Go to the Review tab, click Restrict Editing, and choose Stop Protection at the bottom of the pane.
- 3. Change or clear the exception rules: In the Restrict Editing pane, either set the editing restriction to Filling in forms or run the macro to clear exception ranges.
- 4. Reapply protection and save: Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection, set a password, and save the document as .docx.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WPS Writer have a one-click button to remove all editing exceptions?
No, WPS Writer does not expose a single one-click command for that in the standard interface. The quickest built-in method is to change the editing restriction to Filling in forms when no content controls or form fields are present.
What happens if the document contains content controls or legacy form fields?
The Filling in forms restriction may still allow editing inside those objects. You can remove the content controls/form fields first, or use a tested VBA macro to clear the exception ranges before re-protecting.
Can I run the same VBA macro in WPS Writer and Microsoft Word?
You can use the same VBA logic if your WPS build supports VBA macros. Always run it on a copy and verify that all editing exception fields are removed before protecting the original document.
Will changing the restriction type to Filling in forms remove my document formatting?
No, changing the editing restriction does not remove text or formatting. It only changes how protection is enforced, but exceptions in content controls or legacy form fields may remain editable.
What should I do if I forget the protection password?
You must enter the password to stop protection and change restrictions. If the password is lost, you normally need the original unprotected document or an existing password recovery process, because WPS cannot bypass protected Word document passwords.
