Sometimes, when you upload a file to our website, you might see this error: "Unsupported file format or file is not password protected." Even if your file is correctly password-protected and seems fine, you might wonder why this happens.
Here's the simple explanation: Files that look similar on the outside can be quite different on the inside. For example, Excel files (*.xlsx) created with different versions of MS Office (2007, 2010, 2013, or newer) have unique internal structures and password protection methods. This is also true for PDF files made with different Adobe Acrobat versions, from older ones (like version 2) to the latest versions.
Additionally, PDF files can have different types of protection: some require passwords to open, others only restrict actions like printing or copying. All these variations can cause the error you see.
Known Issues
Currently, we have trouble processing certain files:
- Older MS Office documents (*.doc, *.xls, *.ppt) protected against editing. We reliably handle newer formats (*.docx, *.xlsx, *.pptx). If possible, please convert your document to one of these newer formats before uploading.
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Specific archive formats:
- RAR files without encrypted file lists;
- RAR5 and ZIP2 files;
- Some types of 7z files.
We successfully process nearly all other file types.
What can you do next?
We're always improving our service to handle more file formats. If your file isn't supported yet, please contact our support team. We'll be happy to assist you.