Is an edit restriction the same as an open password?

No. An open password or file-encryption prompt blocks access to the contents. An edit restriction usually allows the file to open while limiting changes. The two cases need different checks and may have different supported routes.

What does “configured” mean in this matrix?

Configured means the service path is defined for that protection profile. It is not the same as a locally verified fixture result and it does not predict whether a particular password can be recovered.

What does “locally verified” mean?

It means the linked public fixture passed the documented local check. The result confirms that the check worked for that fixture; it does not establish the state of another file.

Should I upload a file that appears corrupted?

Keep the original unchanged and make a working copy. First check another copy, the application version and available backups. Corruption assessment and password recovery should remain separate decisions.

RECOVERY RESEARCH · COMPATIBILITY

Choose the right file recovery path

A password prompt, an edit restriction and a damaged file can look similar from the outside. This compatibility matrix connects each protection profile to the route, limits and evidence you should check first.

English research page

Format-specific evidence

Last verified 2026-10-03

Quick answer

Identify what is blocked before choosing recovery

If the file will not open, investigate an open password or encryption profile. If it opens but cannot be edited, investigate the restriction or permission. If the application reports corruption, preserve the original and assess repair separately.

First decision

Match the symptom to the path

The same word “locked” can describe different technical states. Use the prompt and the file behaviour to avoid sending a corruption case into a password search or treating an edit restriction as encryption.

The file will not open

This is usually an open-password or file-encryption case. Preserve the original and identify the exact format before choosing a password search.

Open-password path

The file opens but editing is blocked

A worksheet, document or presentation editing restriction is different from encryption. Check the owner, permissions and the application’s protection controls first.

Edit-restriction path

The file reports an error or looks damaged

Corruption and a forgotten password need different diagnostics. Keep the original, make a working copy and check whether another copy opens before attempting recovery.

Corruption assessment

Format matrix

Compatibility by file family

Start with the prompt you see, then use the file profile and evidence state to choose a route. “Configured” means the path is defined; “locally verified” means the listed fixture passed a local check.

Filter by familyAll rows are rendered initially; this filter narrows the visible comparison.

Password recovery compatibility rows by file family, protection and verification evidence
Family / profile	Protection	Service path	Limits and notes	Evidence	Fixtures / sources
Office Legacy Office RC4/MD5 (DOC/XLS/PPT)	Legacy file-opening encryption	Eligible older files may offer an unlocked copy after source verification. Assessment selects the path. Open matching guide	The original file is required. An unlocked copy and the original typed password are different results.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
Office Legacy Office RC4/SHA-1, 40-bit	Legacy file-opening encryption	Submit the original document for assessment and password-search options. Open matching guide	This profile is not an unconditional file-unlock guarantee.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
Office Legacy Office RC4/SHA-1, 128-bit	Legacy file-opening encryption	Submit the original document for assessment and password-search options. Open matching guide	Recovery depends on the password and available search. It is outside the 40-bit file-unlock profile.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
Office OOXML Office 2007 Standard (DOCX/XLSX/PPTX)	File-opening encryption, AES-128	Assess the original file; eligible hash-only submissions are password-only. Open matching guide	The three local examples use this encryption profile, not every modern Office variant. Hash-only processing cannot return an unlocked file.	Locally verified	docxxlsxpptx Primary source 1 Primary source 2
Office OOXML Office 2010 encryption (DOCX/XLSX/PPTX)	File-opening encryption	Assess the original file; eligible hash-only submissions are password-only. Open matching guide	A strong password may remain impractical to recover. This exact profile was not part of the controlled fixture set.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
Office OOXML Office 2013+ encryption (DOCX/XLSX/PPTX)	File-opening encryption	Assess the original file; eligible hash-only submissions are password-only. Open matching guide	The extension alone does not identify the encryption profile. This exact profile was not part of the controlled fixture set.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
Office Legacy Excel XOR protection	Legacy workbook obfuscation	Keep the XLS source for assessment and the applicable legacy recovery path. Open matching guide	This is a different protection scheme from modern workbook encryption. No encrypted XLS example was tested in this study.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
Office Legacy Word XOR protection	Legacy document obfuscation	Keep the DOC source for assessment and the applicable legacy recovery path. Open matching guide	This is a different protection scheme from modern DOCX encryption. No encrypted DOC example was tested in this study.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
PDF PDF revision 2, RC4-40	File-opening / standard-security encryption	Eligible older PDFs may offer an unlocked copy after source verification. Open matching guide	An unlocked PDF is not necessarily recovery of the original typed password. Eligibility is determined from the actual file.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
PDF PDF revision 3/4, RC4-128	File-opening / standard-security encryption	Assess the PDF and separate the open password from editing permissions. Open matching guide	Hash-only processing is password-only. The controlled open-password example is revision 3, not every revision-4 combination.	Locally verified	pdf_open Primary source 1 Primary source 2
PDF PDF revision 5, AES-256	File-opening / standard-security encryption	Assess the PDF; eligible hash-only submissions are password-only. Open matching guide	No revision-5 example was included in the controlled set. Support does not guarantee finding the password.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
PDF PDF revision 6, AES-256	File-opening / standard-security encryption	Assess the PDF; eligible hash-only submissions are password-only. Open matching guide	No revision-6 example was included in the controlled set. Strong passwords can remain impractical to recover.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
ZIP ZIP ZipCrypto, stored member	Traditional ZIP file encryption	Submit the original archive for assessment and candidate verification. Open matching guide	The password must open the archive; a matching checksum alone is insufficient. Hash-only intake is not available for this profile.	Locally verified	zipcrypto Primary source 1 Primary source 2
ZIP ZIP ZipCrypto, deflated member	Traditional ZIP file encryption	Submit the original archive for assessment and candidate verification. Open matching guide	The controlled ZIP example is stored, not deflated. Keep the original archive available for final verification.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
ZIP ZIP ZipCrypto, compressed multi-file	Traditional ZIP file encryption	Submit the complete original archive for assessment. Open matching guide	Different members can carry different protection. The configured profile was not locally fixture-tested here.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
ZIP ZIP ZipCrypto, mixed multi-file	Traditional ZIP file encryption	Submit the complete original archive for assessment. Open matching guide	Member structure and compression matter. The configured profile was not locally fixture-tested here.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
ZIP ZIP ZipCrypto, checksum-oriented multi-file	Traditional ZIP file encryption	Submit the original archive so a complete encrypted member can be checked. Open matching guide	A checksum result alone is not proof that the archive opens. No local example of this profile was tested.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
ZIP ZIP WinZip AES	AES-encrypted ZIP contents	Submit the original archive for assessment and candidate verification. Open matching guide	The local example uses AES-256. Other strengths and ZIP variants require their own assessment; a recovered password still has to open the archive.	Locally verified	zip_aes256 Primary source 1 Primary source 2
RAR RAR3 with encrypted headers	Archive encryption including file names	Submit the original archive for assessment; eligible hash-only processing is password-only. Open matching guide	No RAR file was created in this study. An accepted hash-only job cannot return an unlocked archive.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
RAR RAR3 stored encrypted member	Encrypted archive member with visible headers	Submit the original archive for assessment and source verification. Open matching guide	No RAR fixture was tested. Compression method and source availability determine the appropriate path.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
RAR RAR3 compressed encrypted member	Encrypted archive member with visible headers	Submit the original archive for assessment and source verification. Open matching guide	No RAR fixture was tested. Larger member records can require a different processing path.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
RAR RAR3 larger or alternate compressed member	Encrypted archive member; conditional compatibility	Submit the original archive for an individual compatibility assessment. Open matching guide	This is a conditional fallback, not blanket support for every RAR3 method. No local fixture was tested.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
RAR RAR5	Modern archive encryption	Submit the original archive for assessment; eligible hash-only processing is password-only. Open matching guide	No RAR5 fixture was tested. A header-only or hash-only submission cannot provide an unlocked archive.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
7z 7z AES-256, visible file names	Encrypted archive contents	Submit the original 7z archive for assessment and source verification. Open matching guide	The local example has encrypted file names instead. Not every compression/coder combination is supported.	Configured	No fixture linked Primary source 1 Primary source 2
7z 7z AES-256, encrypted file names	Encrypted contents and archive header	Submit the original 7z archive for assessment and source verification. Open matching guide	Keep the complete original archive. This local example does not establish support for every coder combination or password.	Locally verified	sevenzip_aes Primary source 1 Primary source 2
PDF PDF permissions only, empty open password	Owner/permissions restriction; file already opens	Check authorised editing or export options in the PDF application before choosing a password search. Open matching guide	The controlled example opens with an empty user password. It does not represent a forgotten open password or guarantee a permissions-removal service.	Locally verified	pdf_owner_only Primary source 1

Last verified: 2026-10-03. A compatibility entry describes the available route; it does not promise that a password can be found.

Download the compatibility record

Use the machine-readable exports when you need to compare a format profile with your own notes or reproduce the public research record.

JSON matrix CSV matrix Methodology

How to use the evidence

Treat primary source links as format documentation and fixture results as local checks. A matching format guide can explain the protection, but only a check against your own authorised file can establish its actual state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Next step

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Start with an authorised copy and the exact prompt you see. The format profile determines which path is relevant.

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