- Microsoft Office password-protected files are now fully supported in Google Workspace
- Previously, users had to download the files and open them in other software.
- Google’s push for interoperability and eliminating vendor lock-in is evident
A major new update to Google Workspace means you can now edit password-protected Microsoft Office software files directly in Docs, Sheets, and Slides—or in other words, within your company’s core ecosystem—without having to search for alternative software.
This is great news for Google Workspace users, as it offers one more reason why they may no longer need to subscribe to two different licenses.
When opening protected files, Google now allows users to enter the password and enter read-only or edit modes.
Google Workspace boosts Microsoft Office interoperability
The move is part of a much larger trend we have been seeing in recent months and years, and is hugely favorable for consumers and customers. With cross-platform stacks now the norm in a hybrid work world, companies like Google and Microsoft have been improving interoperability and compatibility to avoid vendor lock-in.
Google has already made similar moves in other areas of Workspace, such as interoperability between Google Meet and Microsoft Teams/Zoom.
Better yet, this update is coming to all Google Workspace customers, not just paying businesses, so people will also be able to use Google (if that’s their preferred system) to access more Office documents.
“Prior to this, users had to download and rely on third-party apps to remove passwords or edit password-protected Microsoft files,” Google wrote in its update blog post.
The feature has already started rolling out, but some domains may not get it until the end of January 2026.
This isn’t the only feature Google has been working on to address vendor lock-in. Over the past year, the company has made it easier for businesses to migrate their data from Dropbox and SharePoint.
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