Google Drive Now Lets You Edit Password-Protected Office Files Online

Google has remained in the spotlight following the introduction of Gemini Personal Intelligence, but AI isn’t the only area seeing updates. The company has also rolled out a practical new Google Drive feature that targets long-standing compatibility issues with Microsoft Office files.

Google Drive Now Edits Password-Protected Office Files Online

According to Neowin, Google has updated Google Drive to allow direct editing of password-protected Microsoft Office files.

When users open a protected Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file stored in Drive, Google prompts them to enter the password. After verification, users can choose between “View” or “Edit.”

Selecting “Edit” removes the password protection and opens the file directly in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides. If users don’t know the password, Drive still allows a read-only preview of the document.

Previously, users had to download the file and rely on third-party tools to unlock it before editing. This update eliminates that extra step and keeps the entire workflow inside Google’s web-based editors.

Gemini Expands as Google Improves Workspace Interoperability

The new feature improves interoperability between Google Workspace and Microsoft Office formats, covering password-protected files across Word, Excel, and PowerPoint stored in Google Drive.

The rollout began on January 13, 2026, and applies to both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains through late January. Google has made the capability available to all Workspace customers and personal Google account users. At the moment, admins don’t have a setting to enable or disable the feature.

This Drive update arrives as Google continues to expand Gemini across its ecosystem. The company has confirmed Gemini integrations for Gmail, and reports indicate Gemini will also power Siri AI features.

Google has published additional technical details about the Drive update in an official blog post.