2 Easy Ways to Put a Password on a Microsoft Word Document

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Keep your Word documents safe and protected with a password

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: August 14, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using Windows

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Using Mac

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Video

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Q&A

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Warnings

Do you have Microsoft Word documents with sensitive information? If you have Word files you want to protect, you can easily lock it with a password. You can even mark the file as "Read Only" if you don't want other viewers to make accidental changes. Always use a password you can remember as you won't be able to recover it if it's lost. This wikiHow will show you how to password-protect a Microsoft Word document using your Windows or Mac computer.

Things You Should Know

On Windows, open a document. Click "File" → "Info" → "Protect Document" → "Encrypt with Password" → enter a password → "OK".
On Mac, open a document. Click the "Review" tab → "Protect" → "Protect Document". Enter a password and click "OK".
Since you won't be able to retrieve a lost password, be sure to use a password you can remember or write it down.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows

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1
Open a document in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows.^{[1]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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- You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
2
Click File. This will be at the top-left corner of the window, next to Home.
- A new page will open.
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You can find this in the left panel.
4
Click Protect Document. This is the first tile of the Info tab.
- A drop-down menu will open.
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Set as Read-Only (optional). If you want to prevent accidental changes from others when you share a document, you can set it as "Read-Only". Keep in mind that others will be able to change this mode if they choose.
- Click Always Open Read-Only in the drop-down menu.
- You'll see an icon of a pencil and cancel symbol underneath Protect Document.
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Click Encrypt with Password. This will be below Always Open Read-Only.
- A pop-up box will open.
Keep in mind you won't be able to reset or recover the password if you forget it. Be sure to use a password you can remember.
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Re-enter the password and click OK. Input the same password as the previous step.
- You should now see a lock and key icon underneath Protect Document.
If you're prompted to save your document, be sure to save. When you open the document again, you'll be asked to enter in your password.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Mac

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1
Open a document in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to download for macOS.
- You must have a subscription to use Microsoft Word and Office 365.
This is the tab at the top, next to View.
3
Click Protect. The icon will look like a padlock in front of a document.
- A drop-down menu will open.
The Password Protect window will open.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source

Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
5
Enter a password. You can set a password to open the document and to modify the document. Keep in mind you won't be able to retrieve this password, so use a password you can remember.
- To mark the document as read only, check the box for Read-only recommended.
This is the blue button at the bottom-right corner.
If you're prompted to save your document, be sure to save. When you open the document again, you'll be asked to enter in your password.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I password protect a Word 2016 document?

Community Answer

Open the Word document, click on File then Info then Protect Document then Encrypt with Password, and then you enter the password to the text box to set a password on it.

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Question

Instead of a password, could I set up a security question for a Word document?

Community Answer

No. Microsoft Office has no functionality like this.

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Question

How does the recipient get the password to read an encrypted document?

Community Answer

You can send the password to the recipient directly via email, text, etc.

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Thank you for your feedback.
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