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Windows Passwords
Easy Ways to Encrypt Your Sensitive Word Documents with a Password Download Article Secure your Word files with this simple password-protecting guide Written by Hannah Dillon
Last Updated: September 22, 2025 Fact Checked
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Using Windows
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Using Mac
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Older Word Versions
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Can you encrypt Word files on the web?
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Dillon. Hannah Dillon is a Technology Writer and Editor at wikiHow. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University in 2013 and has since worked in the video game industry as well as a few newspapers. From a young age Hannah has cultivated a love for writing and technology, and hopes to use these passions in tandem to help others in the articles she writes for wikiHow. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,313,154 times. Learn more...
Do you have Microsoft Word documents with sensitive information? If you have Word files you want to protect, you can easily lock them 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. Keep reading to learn more.
Password-Protecting Word Documents
Windows: Click File > Info > Protect Document > Encrypt with Password, then enter a password when prompted.
Mac: Click Review > Protect > Protect Document, then enter a password when prompted.
Web: You can't encrypt documents in the web version of Word; you must use the desktop version to password-protect them.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Using Windows
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1 Open the document in Word and click File. This button will be in the top-left corner of the window, next to Home.
These steps will work for Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 2021, Word 2024, and Microsoft 365.
2 Click Info. It's in the left-hand sidebar, under the Open button. Advertisement
3 Click Protect Document. This is the first tile of the Info tab, and it has an icon of a lock and key.
A drop-down menu will open.
4 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.
To set the document as read-only, click the first option in the drop-down list that has an icon of a pencil and a cancel symbol.
If you choose to make your file read-only, you'll need to click the Protect Document button again to open the drop-down.
5 Click Encrypt with Password. This option is below Always Open Read-Only and has an icon of a lock and key.
A pop-up box will open.
6 Enter a password and click OK. 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.
Passwords, starting with Word 2013 to the current version, can be no longer than 13 characters long.
7 Re-enter the password and click OK. Input the same password as the previous step.
Once you enter the password twice, the Protect Document section will be highlighted, and it will say "A password is required to open this document."
If you want to remove the encryption, click Protect Document again, then choose Encrypt with Password. Clear the password field and press ↵ Enter, and the password protection will be removed.
8 Close the 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 the document's password.
Advertisement Section 2 of 4:
Using Mac
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1 Open your document and click Review. You can find this tab at the top of the window, next to View.
These steps will work for Word 2021 for Mac, Word 2024 for Mac, and Microsoft 365.
2 Click Protect. The icon will look like a padlock in front of a document.
A drop-down menu will open.
3 Click Protect Document. The Password Protect window will open.[1]X Trustworthy Source Microsoft SupportTechnical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
4 Enter a password. You can set a password to open the document and to modify it. 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.
5 Click OK. This is the blue button at the bottom-right corner.
To remove the password protection on the document, delete the password from the password field.
6 Close the 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 your password.
Advertisement Section 3 of 4:
Older Word Versions
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1 Open your file and click the Word button in the upper-left corner. The button is a circle and has the Microsoft Office logo.
These steps will work for older Microsoft Word versions, like Word 2007 and Word 2013.
2 Click Prepare. It's near the bottom of the list, below the Print button, and it has an icon of a pencil and a sheet of paper.
3 Click Encrypt Document. It's got an icon of a lock and key, and it's between Inspect Document and Add a Digital Signature.
4 Enter a password and click OK. 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.
Passwords, starting with Word 2013 to the current version, can be no longer than 13 characters long.
5 Re-enter the password and click OK. Input the same password as the previous step.
6 Save the document. Once you've added your password, save the document to make sure the password is saved. The next time you open the file, you'll be required to type the password to access it.[2]XResearch source
Advertisement Section 4 of 4:
Can you encrypt Word files on the web?
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Unfortunately, you cannot password-protect files in the web version of Word. You also can't open password-protected files in the web version of Microsoft Word. If you need to encrypt a document or open a password-protected file, you'll need to use the desktop version of Word.[3]X Trustworthy Source Microsoft SupportTechnical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 24
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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 13
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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 11
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Warnings
If you forget your password, you won't be able to recover the document, and Microsoft can do nothing to recover it for you. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Written by: Hannah Dillon wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Dillon. Hannah Dillon is a Technology Writer and Editor at wikiHow. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University in 2013 and has since worked in the video game industry as well as a few newspapers. From a young age Hannah has cultivated a love for writing and technology, and hopes to use these passions in tandem to help others in the articles she writes for wikiHow. This article has been viewed 1,313,154 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 30Updated: September 22, 2025 Views: 1,313,154 Categories: Featured Articles | Windows PasswordsArticle SummaryX
1. Open the document in Word. 2. Go to File > Info. 3. Click Protect Document. 4. Click Encrypt with Password. 5. Enter a password and click OK. Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Download Article Secure your Word files with this simple password-protecting guide Written by Hannah Dillon 
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Written by: Hannah Dillon wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Dillon. Hannah Dillon is a Technology Writer and Editor at wikiHow. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University in 2013 and has since worked in the video game industry as well as a few newspapers. From a young age Hannah has cultivated a love for writing and technology, and hopes to use these passions in tandem to help others in the articles she writes for wikiHow. This article has been viewed 1,313,154 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 30 Updated: September 22, 2025 Views: 1,313,154 Categories: Featured Articles | Windows Passwords Article SummaryX
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1 Open the document in Word and click File. This button will be in the top-left corner of the window, next to Home. 
2 Click Info. It's in the left-hand sidebar, under the Open button. Advertisement 
3 Click Protect Document. This is the first tile of the Info tab, and it has an icon of a lock and key. 
4 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. 
5 Click Encrypt with Password. This option is below Always Open Read-Only and has an icon of a lock and key. 
6 Enter a password and click OK. 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. 
7 Re-enter the password and click OK. Input the same password as the previous step. 
8 Close the 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 the document's password. Advertisement 
1 Open your document and click Review. You can find this tab at the top of the window, next to View. 
2 Click Protect. The icon will look like a padlock in front of a document. 
3 Click Protect Document. The Password Protect window will open.[1] 
4 Enter a password. You can set a password to open the document and to modify it. Keep in mind you won't be able to retrieve this password, so use a password you can remember. 
5 Click OK. This is the blue button at the bottom-right corner. 
6 Close the 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 your password. Advertisement 
1 Open your file and click the Word button in the upper-left corner. The button is a circle and has the Microsoft Office logo. 
2 Click Prepare. It's near the bottom of the list, below the Print button, and it has an icon of a pencil and a sheet of paper. 
3 Click Encrypt Document. It's got an icon of a lock and key, and it's between Inspect Document and Add a Digital Signature. 
4 Enter a password and click OK. 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. 
5 Re-enter the password and click OK. Input the same password as the previous step. 
6 Save the document. Once you've added your password, save the document to make sure the password is saved. The next time you open the file, you'll be required to type the password to access it.[2] Advertisement 
Unfortunately, you cannot password-protect files in the web version of Word. You also can't open password-protected files in the web version of Microsoft Word. If you need to encrypt a document or open a password-protected file, you'll need to use the desktop version of Word.[3] 
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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 24 
Community Answer No. Microsoft Office has no functionality like this. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 13 
Community Answer You can send the password to the recipient directly via email, text, etc. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 11