We're excited to announce a major improvement to Microsoft Office interoperability in Google Workspace: you can now edit Microsoft Office files that are password-protected, directly within Docs, Sheets, and Slides.When a user attempts to open a protected file in Drive, they will be prompted to enter the password with the option to View or Edit. Selecting “Preview” opens the document in read-only Preview mode without removing the password. New with this launch is the option to Edit, which will open the file for editing in Docs/Sheets/Slides and remove the password from the file.A user opening a password protected Microsoft Office file in Google DriveThis enables better interoperability between Workspace and Microsoft, allowing users for the first time to edit password protected files directly in Drive. Prior to this, users would have to download and rely on third party applications to remove passwords or edit password protected Microsoft files.Getting startedAdmins: There is no admin control for this feature.End users: Visit the Help Center for more info on using this feature.Rollout paceRapid Release domains: Full rollout (1–4 days for feature visibility) starting on January 13, 2026, and ending on January 16, 2026Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) starting on January 19, 2026, and ending January 21, 2026AvailabilityAvailable to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accountsResourcesGoogle Docs Editors Help: Edit an Office file directly in Docs, Sheets, or Slides