You should think about password-protecting your files if you use Microsoft Word or other Office products to store sensitive information. For example, you might need to keep a Word document containing sensitive info in a public folder so others can see it. In this instance, you should probably encrypt the document and only share the password with people who need to see it.
Here’s how to password protect a Word document using the steps given below.
How to Password Protect a Microsoft Word document in Windows.
It is always a smart option to use a secure password on documents containing sensitive data. Now, to password-protect your Word document on Windows, follow these steps.
- Open the document in Microsoft Word on the Windows computer.
- To encrypt a document, click on File> select Protect Document > choose Encrypt with Password.
- Now type in the password you want to use and hit OK. To confirm, you’ll need to re-enter your password. Do so and then click OK.
- You’ve now secured your Word document with a password. When you exit and reopen the document, it will no longer open without entering the password.
How to Encrypt a Microsoft Word document in Macbook.
Follow these steps to add a password to a Word document on a Macbook.
- Open a document in Microsoft Word on the Macbook.
- In the ribbon at the top, click Review > Select Protect > choose Protect Document.
- Now type in the password you want to use to open the document and press OK. To confirm, you’ll be prompted to re-enter your password; do so and then click OK.
- You can also add a password to prevent others from editing the document.
That’s how you can secure the Microsoft Word document so that if someone tries to hack into the account, they won’t be able to access any critical data.
How to delete a password from a Microsoft Office document?
Follow these steps to disable the password from a Microsoft Office document (Word, PowerPoint, or Excel):
- Open the document in Word (Excel or PowerPoint).
- To access the File, enter the current password.
- Then press the OK button.
- Select File.
- Go to the Info tab.
- Choose the Protect document menu on the right side.
- Choose Encrypt with Password from the menu.
- Delete the existing password.
- Then press the OK button.
Anyone not having the password will not be able to open or modify the Microsoft Office document and remove the password.
How to Password protect an ADOBE ACROBAT (PDF) file.
- Open the PDF and select Tools> click Protect > select Encrypt > then Encrypt with Password from the drop-down menu.
- If prompted, select ‘Yes’ to alter the security level.
- Select “Require a Password to Open the Document” and enter the password in the appropriate field. The password strength meter evaluates your password with each keystroke and displays the password strength.
- From the Compatibility option, choose an Acrobat version. Choose an Acrobat or Reader version that is equal to or smaller than the version used by the recipient.
- The sort of encryption utilized is determined by the Compatibility option selected. Selecting an Acrobat or Reader version that is compatible with the user’s version is critical. Acrobat 7, for example, will not be able to open a PDF that has been encrypted for Acrobat X or higher.
- Choose “Encrypt All Document Contents” from the drop-down menu.
- Click the OK button. Retype the new password in the box when prompted to confirm the password and click OK.
