How to Protect a Word Document
If you’re creating a Word document containing sensitive information only to be viewed by certain people, you can add a password to the document so it can’t be opened by anyone who doesn’t know the password, or add a password so people can only view the document and not edit it.
Add a password to open a document
To apply an open password to a Word document involves the “Save As” dialog box. Again, make sure the document to which you want to add an open password is open and click the “File” tab. On the backstage screen, click “Save As” in the list of items on the left.
Select a folder where you want to save the password protected document. Either select the “Current Folder”, a folder under “Recent Folders”, or click “Browse” to select a folder not in the list.
Navigate to the desired folder, if necessary. Then, click “Tools” next to the “Save” button and select “General Options” from the drop-down menu.
On the “General Options” dialog box, enter a password into the “Password to open” edit box and click “OK”.
On the “Confirm Password” dialog box that displays, enter the password again in the “Reenter password to open” edit box and click “OK”.
Click “Save” to save the document with the password. The next time you open the document Word will ask you for the password before opening the document.
Add a password to modify a document
To apply a modify password to a Word document involves the “Save As” dialog box. Again, make sure the document to which you want to add an open password is open and click the “File” tab. On the backstage screen, click “Save As” in the list of items on the left.
Select a folder where you want to save the password protected document. Either select the “Current Folder”, a folder under “Recent Folders”, or click “Browse” to select a folder not in the list.
Navigate to the desired folder, if necessary. Then, click “Tools” next to the “Save” button and select “General Options” from the drop-down menu.
On the “General Options” dialog box, enter a password into the “Password to modify” edit box and click “OK”.
On the “Confirm Password” dialog box that displays, enter the password again in the “Reenter password to open” edit box and click “OK”.
Click “Save” to save the document with the password. The next time you open the document Word will ask you for the password before opening the document.