Why is reduced functionality mode enabled in Word. Reduced functionality mode in Word - how to remove

If you open a Word document, at the top in square brackets, you see the message: "Degraded Mode", then the question immediately arises: "What is it, and how to remove it?". This will be discussed in this article.

What does this inscription mean

In Word, this inscription appears next to the name if you opened a file created in an earlier version of a text editor - 2003, in a new version - 2010. For example, you worked with a file at work, came home, opened it on a computer and saw at the top an unusual inscription. This means that Word 2003 is installed at the workplace, and you most likely have a newer version - 2010 or 2013 - at home.

The fact is that after the version of Word 2007 appeared, the format of the created documents also changed. In 2003, files were saved in *.doc format, and in newer versions - 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016, in *.docx format.

If the file is opened in reduced functionality mode, then the text editor works as an emulator. At the same time, some functions that the developers have added to the new versions will not be available to you. For example, editing formulas, new numbering styles, WordArt objects, some themes, and more.

Disable mode

If you need to remove the message at the top and work with Word to the maximum, then it’s enough just to resave the file in a newer format.

Open the desired document and go to the top tab "File". From the list that opens, select the item.

I have Word 2010 installed. If you have 2016 installed, then instead of a separate window, a menu will open. In the area on the right, specify the folder on the computer to save and select the mentioned "File Type" with *.docx extension. Then press the "Save" button.

The following dialog box will appear. It states that the document may be slightly modified. For example, some styles have been removed, and all formulas will become pictures and it will be impossible to edit them. We press "OK".

After that, you will be able to use all the features of the Word program that is installed on your computer, when working with a document, the message at the top will disappear.

Remove this mode

You can do everything in the following way. Open the desired document again and go to the File tab. In the Details section, click the button.

Confirm the action by clicking OK.

The line at the top where it says about restrictions will disappear, and you will be able to use all the new features of the text editor you have installed. Save your changes either by clicking on the diskette in the upper left corner, or by pressing Ctrl+S or Shift+F12 .

In the converted file, some styles can be removed, and all formulas will become pictures.

This method differs from the first one in that the original will not be saved, it is simply converted. And the use of resaving, which is described in the first paragraph, will allow you to save both the original document and its new version, in which there are no restrictions.

I think you managed to remove, using one of the methods described in the article, a line in the document that says about restrictions.

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Many of the users periodically encounter such a problem as "limited functionality mode" in the Word editor. How to remove this limitation? In fact, everything is very simple.

Let's first understand why this happens. As a rule, a similar situation occurs in Word 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016 when opening old files with the “.doc” extension. This means that modern features cannot be used in this file.

You will not be able to insert the following elements (or the possibilities will be severely limited):

formula (equation - in Word 2016);

screenshot;

diagram;

SmartArt graphic;

and much more.

How to disable restricted mode

Many users, seeing this inscription in the title, immediately try to exit and think that the problem lies in the editor. But actually it is not. It's all about structure.

There are two ways to fix the problem. Although in fact, in both cases, the same thing will happen (change in structure and conversion to a new format). Let's consider them more carefully.

Saving in a new format

Open the problematic document. Then click on the "File" menu item.

In the menu that appears on the left, select "Save As".

Click on the "Browse" button.

Choose the right place. Then click on the drop down list of formats.

In the list that appears, select the very first option - "Word Document (*.docx)".

Then click on the "Save" button.

As a result of this, you will receive a message that the document will be updated to the latest format. We agree to this condition.

As a result, in the file header you will see that the extension has changed from .doc to .docx.

Document conversion

This result can be achieved in another way.

Click on the "File" menu item.

On this page, click on the "Convert" button. A detailed description of the function is indicated next.

As a result, you will be notified that the document has been updated to the latest format. Click on the "OK" button.

This will add the .docx extension to the header.

The difference between the two ways

As a rule, in both cases the result will be the same - you will receive a document of a modern format. Now it supports all the innovations that have appeared in the Word editor over the past 15 years (after Word 2003).

But the fundamental difference is that with manual resaving, you will have both options:

old, with limited functionality;
new, with docx extension, in which you can do anything.

and much more that was previously unavailable.

Conclusion

In this article, it was considered how you can remove the restriction in several ways. If something doesn't work out for you, you may be choosing the wrong format when saving.

Video instruction

You can watch a video that provides additional comments on the steps above.

The interface becomes friendlier and more intuitive for users. However, a number of users do not switch to new versions of programs immediately or do not switch at all due to habit, unwillingness to spend money on updates, and incompatibility of new programs with computers. Accordingly, the question arises of the compatibility of files of different versions of Word.

Might be interesting:

Reduced functionality mode - what is it

In most cases, documents saved in the new version of the software package simply will not open in the old version. But the opposite is happening.

In Microsoft Office programs and specifically in Word, users in this case are faced with a reduced functionality mode.

How to remove reduced functionality mode

There are several ways to remove the incompatibility.

Enabling Compatibility

Word 2010 has a function to check the compatibility of a file with the version of the program in which it is opened. For this:

in the "File" menu, the "Sharing" item is selected;
then "Search for problems";
and Check Compatibility.

After that, the inscription about the limited mode disappears.

Important! A document with the .doc extension can be resaved in the new version of Word in the .docx format or in other available formats, including web pages, a text file txt, pdf, rtf and some others. More on that below.

Document conversion

Another option is to convert the document by selecting the menu item, which is called "Convert". The file will acquire a new format, i.e. changes the extension in the new version of the program, and will make it possible to format text, markup and other aspects in the design. The original file is replaced by the converted one, and this document cannot be opened in the old Word.

File conversion

The last way to remove reduced functionality mode is to use programs or online services for converting files. The source file is loaded onto the resource or into the program, the required output format is indicated, the file is converted.

This method is used when reformatting an old file into a new one and vice versa, when a document from a new program needs to be opened in an early version. Basically, after processing, the text is displayed correctly, but there are failures in the design. Charts, graphs or other similar objects that were configured and edited in the later version are sometimes displayed as pictures in the old version or not displayed at all.

Whichever method is chosen, they are all simple, and after a few steps will allow you to use the extensive functionality of a later version of Word in your document. If you have questions about Microsoft products that you did not find the answer to in the article, write to us. Together we will find the answers.

Might be interesting:

Reduced functionality mode - what is it

In most cases, documents saved in the new version of the software package simply will not open in the old version. But the opposite is happening.

In Microsoft Office programs and specifically in Word, users in this case are faced with a reduced functionality mode.

How to remove reduced functionality mode

There are several ways to remove the incompatibility.

Enabling Compatibility

Word 2010 has a function to check the compatibility of a file with the version of the program in which it is opened. For this:

in the "File" menu, the "Sharing" item is selected;
then "Search for problems";
and Check Compatibility.

After that, the inscription about the limited mode disappears.

Document conversion

File conversion

Today we will talk about an interesting inscription - “Restricted functionality mode”. What does it mean in all office programs of the Microsoft Office package, in particular, in Word? In fact, nothing serious - just this inscription indicates that the document itself was created on the old version of the editor of the 97th or 2003th year and the full functionality of the new version is not available. In this article, we want to tell you how to remove this ill-fated reduced functionality mode in Microsoft Word. There is nothing complicated in this and now you will learn about everything.

The easiest way

The problem is solved in just a few mouse clicks. In the second case, everything is somewhat different, but there are no more actions.

By converting a document

As you can see, there really is absolutely nothing complicated. You had to make a few mouse clicks and the document was converted automatically, while the original data inside it was not lost, and their structure remained the same.