Remove password from a password-protected PowerPoint file

Problem

You previously applied a password to a presentation, but now you want to remove it.

When you open the presentation, the password boxes are grayed out, even though you've opened the file with the correct password.

Solution

First open the password-protected file in PowerPoint. You'll need to know the password to do this, of course. Then ...

• In PowerPoint 2002/XP: Choose Tools, Options, click the Edit tab and remove the checkmark next to "Password protection" in the "Disable new features" area. (Thanks to Nick for posting the problem AND the solution in the PowerPoint Newsgroup.)
• In PowerPoint 2003: Choose File, Save As, PowerPoint Presentation, then click Tools at the upper right of the resulting Save As dialog box. On the pop-up menu that appears, click Security Options. In the Security Options dialog box that appears, select and delete the password or passwords you want to remove (Open, Modify or both). Click OK then continue saving the presentation to the original file name or to a new file name.
• In PowerPoint 2007: Click the Office Button, point to Save As, click PowerPoint Presentation, then click Tools at the lower left of the resulting Save As dialog box. On the pop-up menu that appears, click General Options. In the General Options dialog box that appears, select and delete the password or passwords you want to remove (Open, Modify or both). Click OK then continue saving the presentation to the original file name or to a new file name.