# DraftPilot not loading?

The usual causes: a read-only or protected document, an older .doc file, or Word privacy settings that block add-ins.

### Common Reasons Why DraftPilot Won't Load

1.  **The Document Is Read-Only**:
    
    -   DraftPilot requires edit access to the document. If the document is read-only, the add-in cannot load.
        
2.  **The Document Is Protected**:
    
    -   Password-protected or restricted editing settings can prevent DraftPilot from functioning properly.
        
3.  **The Document Is in an Older Format**:
    
    -   Documents saved in formats like `.doc` (used in Word 97-2003) lack support for modern add-in capabilities.
        
4.  **Privacy settings**
    
    -   If you see something like:
        
        [![](/images/knowledge-base/draftpilot-not-loading/01.png)](/images/knowledge-base/draftpilot-not-loading/01.png)
        
    -   Then try the following:  
        1\. Go to Word → File → Options
        
        2\. Choose “Trust Center” → “Trust Center Settings…”
        
        3\. Open the “Privacy Options” section
        
        Make sure these are enabled:
        
        ✅“Enable connected experiences”
        
        ✅“Enable optional connected experiences” (sometimes needed)
        
        ✅“Enable connected experiences that download online content”
        
        (If any of those are OFF, Word blocks Office add-ins.)
        

###   
  
Troubleshooting Steps

**Step 1**: Check If the Document Is Read-Only

-   **How to Identify:**
    
    1.  Look for a banner at the top of Word indicating the document is read-only.
        
    2.  Check the file’s properties:
        
        -   Right-click the file in File Explorer.
            
        -   Select **Properties**.
            
        -   Look for the **Read-only** attribute.
            
-   **How to Fix:**
    
    1.  If the file is marked as read-only in its properties:
        
        -   Uncheck the **Read-only** attribute.
            
        -   Click **OK**.
            
    2.  If the document is shared, request edit access from the owner.
        

**Step 2:** Check If the Document Is Protected

-   **How to Identify:**
    
    1.  Open the document in Word.
        
    2.  Navigate to the **Review** tab and look for a message about restricted editing.
        
-   **How to Fix:**
    
    1.  If the document is password-protected:
        
        -   Enter the password (if known) under **Review** > **Protect** > **Restrict Editing** to remove protection.
            
    2.  If you don’t have the password, contact the document owner for assistance.
        

**Step 3:** Check the Document Format

-   **How to Identify:**
    
    1.  Look at the file extension (e.g., `.doc`, `.docx`).
        
    2.  Older formats like `.doc` indicate compatibility issues.
        
-   **How to Fix:**
    
    1.  Open the document in Word.
        
    2.  Go to **File** > **Save As** (or **Save a Copy**).
        
    3.  Select **Word Document (.docx)** as the file format.
        
    4.  Save the document in the new format.
        

### Best Practices to Avoid Issues

-   Always save documents in the `.docx` format to ensure compatibility with modern Word features and add-ins.
    
-   Check permissions before sharing or opening documents.
    
-   Standardize workflows to ensure compatibility with DraftPilot.
    

### Need Further Assistance?

If you’re still experiencing issues after trying these steps, contact our support team for personalized assistance. We’re here to help you get the most out of DraftPilot!