How to Fix Recoverable Signature Error in Microsoft Word
A digital signature serves to authenticate a Word document. It indicates that the document remains unaltered following the signing process and confirms the signer’s identity. However, if any issues arise with the signature, Microsoft Word may classify it as valid, invalid, or ‘recoverable’.
A recoverable signature error typically occurs when the digital certificate that was used to sign the document has expired or lacks a time stamp. Other possible causes include the certificate authority (CA) not being trusted by the system, the verifier being offline, or the absence of necessary root certificates to verify the signature. This error often comes with messages such as:
Recoverable Signature – The signer’s certificate can’t be verified, please try again later or check your internet connection.
Or
Recoverable Signature – A trust decision has not been made for the signer’s certificate. Your helpdesk should know what to do.
If you are facing a similar recoverable signature error, continue reading this article for helpful troubleshooting advice.
Resolve the Recoverable Signature Error in Word
To address the Recoverable Signature error in Microsoft Word on your Windows 11/10 device, consider the following solutions:
- Include the signer’s identity in the trusted list
- Transfer the certificate to the Trusted People group
- Verify if the certificate is expired
- Check for a missing CRL distribution point
- Repair or reinstall Office
Let’s delve into each solution.
1] Include the Signer’s Identity in the Trusted List
To start, double-click on the signature line displaying the ‘Recoverable Signature’ message. In the Signature Details dialog box, click on the ‘Click here to trust this user’s identity’ link. This action should change the status of the signature from recoverable to valid.
2] Transfer the Certificate to the Trusted People Group
If the link doesn’t work as expected, you can import the certificate manually to the Trusted People group using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).
To import the digital certificate to your trusted list, follow these instructions:
Press Win + R, type in ‘mmc‘, and hit Enter. Click Yes on the User Account Control prompt.
This will launch the MMC window. Navigate to the File menu and select Add/Remove Snap-in….
A new window will appear. Choose Certificates under Available Snap-ins, then click the Add button.
Next, select Computer account > Next > Local computer (this console’s running computer) > Finish.
Now in the MMC window, go to the Personal folder, then select Certificates. The contents will be displayed in the right panel. Right-click the digital certificate and choose Copy.
Now, head to Trusted People > Certificates and paste the copied certificate in the right panel.
Close the MMC window and check to see if the error is resolved.
3] Verify if the Certificate has Expired
The recoverable signature error can arise if a document was signed with a digital certificate that was valid during signing but has since expired.
Even if a certificate is now expired, it can still be used to validate signatures made while it was valid under certain conditions:
- The certificate must be trusted and not revoked
- The certificate must contain a timestamp or other verification data indicating that the signature was made during the period of validity.
To rectify this, you need to locate the expired certificate that was originally used for the document’s signature and manually import it into your trusted certificate store on your machine (as detailed in the previous solution).
This will allow your system to recognize and trust the expired certificate when attempting to validate the document’s signature.
4] Investigate for a Missing CRL Distribution Point
CRL is short for Certificate Revocation List, a document published by a Certificate Authority (CA) that includes certificates revoked before their expiration date.
The CRL distribution point is a field within a digital certificate specifying where the CRL can be accessed. It directs to the issuer’s CRL (Root CA). Word utilizes this data to check if the certificate is still valid. If no CRL distribution point is available, Word assumes that the certificate is untrustworthy (even if it’s valid) since it cannot check for revocation.
As a remedy, ensure that there was a CRL distribution point included in the certificate used for signing the document.
If a chain of certificates exists (e.g., a Root CA and various end-user certificates), verify that:
- The CRL distribution point is present in the issued certificates, not just the issuer’s certificate (CA).
- If utilizing an intermediate CA, two CRLs must be recognized and specified: one for certificates issued by the Root CA and another for those issued by the intermediate CA.
5] Repair or Reinstall Office
If all else fails, consider repairing your Office installation. Should the issue persist, you may need to uninstall Microsoft Office and perform a fresh installation.
I hope this information proves beneficial.
What is a Recoverable Signature in Word?
A recoverable signature in Word refers to a digital signature that is deemed invalid due to various issues such as incorrect system configurations or absent certificates.
How to Enable Signatures in Word?
To enable a signature in Word, open the document and position your cursor where you wish to add the signature. Navigate to the Insert tab, click on Signature Line > Microsoft Office Signature Line, complete the necessary details, and click OK. Next, double-click on the signature line, choose your digital certificate or create a new one, and click Sign. Finally, save the document to finalize the signing process.
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