https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=169507
Bug ID: 169507
Summary: Improve password interface when saving documents
(confusion between main password and read-only
password)
Product: LibreOffice
Version: 25.8.3.2 release
Hardware: x86-64 (AMD64)
OS: All
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Severity: normal
Priority: medium
Component: Writer
Assignee: [email protected]
Reporter: [email protected]
Description:
Description
Currently, when saving a document with a password in LibreOffice, the user is
offered two options:
Main password (to open/edit)
Read-only password (to restrict editing)
The issue is that the interface does not make it clear that the read-only
password is not a second opening password, but rather an additional
restriction. This leads to confusion: many users believe they can set two
independent passwords (one for editing and another for read-only sharing).
In my test:
I saved a file with main password “Teste” and read-only password “Test”.
When opening with “Teste”, the document opens in read-only mode.
To edit, LibreOffice asks again for the read-only password.
When trying to open directly with “Test”, the program reports that the password
is incorrect.
This behavior is not intuitive and may cause users to think they lost access to
the file or that they created two independent passwords.
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Create a new document in LibreOffice.
2. Save with password, setting different main and read-only passwords.
3. Try opening the file with each password.
Actual Results:
Only the main password opens the file.
The document opens in read-only mode and requires the read-only password to
enable editing.
The read-only password does not open the file directly.
Expected Results:
The interface should clearly state that:
The main password is mandatory to open the document.
The read-only password does not open the document, it only restricts editing.
Alternatively, there could be a clearer option like “Share in read-only mode”
without requiring a confusing second password.
Reproducible: Always
User Profile Reset: No
Additional Info:
Suggestion
Improve the wording and explanations in the password saving dialog to avoid
misinterpretation. For example:
“Password to open/edit the document”
“Optional password to enable editing after opening (read-only mode)”
or
"Password to open/edit the document"
"Optional password to open/read only the document"
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