Fix Microsoft Word Taking a Long Time to Close Documents in Protected View
Question details
Microsoft Word experiences significant delays, taking several seconds or longer to close documents that are opened in Protected View.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening and closing files downloaded from the internet, email attachments, or other potentially unsafe locations.
- Observed behavior
- The application hangs or delays considerably before fully closing a document while the Protected View security feature is active.
Verify that the document you are trying to open is from a trustworthy source before bypassing any Protected View security warnings.
Enable Editing for the Specific Document
If you trust the file and its sender, leaving Protected View by enabling editing will turn it into a trusted document and bypass the closing delay.
Protected View opens potentially unsafe files in a restricted, read-only mode to prevent malware from executing. This isolation process uses extra system resources, which can cause lag when closing the file. By enabling editing, you remove the document from this restricted sandbox.
Open the slow-closing document in Microsoft Word. Look at the top of the document window, just below the ribbon toolbar, for a yellow warning banner indicating the file is in Protected View.
Click the 'Enable Editing' button on the right side of the yellow banner. The file will reload in standard editing mode, allowing you to edit and close the document instantly.
Adjust Trust Center Settings for Protected View
Modify your global Trust Center settings if you frequently experience severe lag with multiple documents and primarily handle safe files.
Open and Close Documents Instantly with WPS Office
If Microsoft Word continues to lag or take a long time to close files, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that processes documents swiftly without the heavy resource usage of standard Protected View sandboxing.
- 1. Download the Installer: Go to the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installation file and follow the quick setup wizard to install the software suite.
- 3. Open Your Files Fast: Launch WPS Writer and open your downloaded documents to enjoy seamless, lag-free viewing and editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Protected View cause Microsoft Word to run slowly?
Protected View opens files in a restricted, isolated environment (known as a sandbox) to prevent potentially malicious scripts from harming your system. Creating and managing this secure sandbox requires extra system resources, which can cause noticeable delays when opening, saving, or closing the document.
How do I add a safe folder to bypass Protected View?
You can add specific folders to your Trusted Locations to automatically bypass Protected View for files stored there. Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations. Click 'Add new location', browse for your folder, and click OK.
Is it safe to disable Protected View permanently?
It is generally not recommended to disable Protected View permanently, as it is a critical security feature that stops macros and viruses from executing automatically when you open downloaded files. It is safer to click 'Enable Editing' on a per-document basis or use Trusted Locations.
