Password-Protected Files

Last updated: February 9, 2026

Metal can process password-protected documents. If you upload a file that is encrypted or locked with a password, you will be prompted to provide the password so the file can be unlocked and processed.

Supported Formats

Password-protected file handling is supported for the following formats:

  • PDF files

  • Excel files (.xlsx, .xls)

How It Works

  1. Upload your password-protected file as you would any other file.

  2. Metal detects that the file is encrypted and sets its status to Password Required.

  3. You will be prompted to enter the password for the file.

  4. Once the correct password is provided, the file is decrypted and processed automatically.

  5. After processing, the file becomes searchable and available like any other document.

What If I Enter the Wrong Password?

If the password you provide is incorrect, you will see a message indicating that the password is wrong. You can simply re-enter the correct password and try again -- there is no limit on the number of attempts.

Security

Your file passwords are handled securely:

  • Passwords are encrypted at rest and are never stored in plain text.

  • Passwords are only used at the time of processing to decrypt the file.

  • The decrypted version of the file is stored securely within your organization's workspace.

Unsupported Scenarios

  • Word documents (.docx, .doc) with password protection are detected but may not be decryptable in all cases. If you encounter issues, try removing the password protection before uploading.

  • PowerPoint files (.pptx, .ppt) with password protection follow the same limitations as Word documents.

  • If your file uses a form of DRM (Digital Rights Management) rather than a simple password, it may not be supported.