Industry guru Dave Taylor offers free tech support on a wide variety of technical and business topics, including HTML, Apple iPhone, online advertising, Cascading Style Sheets, Web design, management, Unix, Linux, search engine optimization, online dating, Mac OS X, shell script programming and Microsoft Windows.

How do I create a password protected Word document?

How do I protect a microsoft file with a password? The purpose is, i don't want word to open up my file without asking for a password.. every time i'll open my file i want that it will ask always a password...

Dave's Answer:

This is quite a bit trickier than I think it should be, because the logical place to find the password option, to me at least, is the File --> Properties area of Microsoft Word, but don't rush off and look there, that's not where you set a password for your file.

Instead, you need to go to Tools --> Options, at which point you'll find a dialog box with about a zillion different tabs. Click on the Security tab and you'll see this:

Specify a password for a Microsoft Word document

Notice that you can also set an "edit" password if you're okay with people having the document but want to prevent them from editing the contents. That's not quite what you want, so it's the "Password to open" that you need to fill in.

I also encourage you to click on the "Remove personal information from file properties on save" too, to give you a bit more privacy if the file might make its way out onto the Internet or otherwise leave your own machine.

Click "OK" and it'll ask you to confirm the new password:

Confirm your password for a Microsoft Word document

Don't forget this password lest you end up losing the contents of the file entirely.

Now, save the file as usual and when you try to open it, instead of the contents popping up as usual, you get exactly what you seek:

Opening a password protected file in Microsoft Word

Hope that helps you out!

Help others find this article at Del.icio.us, Digg, Netscape, Reddit, and Stumble Upon

Subscribe!

Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader.

Comments

You can also use the "Save As" option.

Next click on The "Tools" in the upper right corner of the Save As dialog.

Then click on "Security Options".

Posted by: Richard Frisch at March 28, 2006 10:03 PM

thanks. it worked

Posted by: pipes at March 31, 2006 2:08 AM

dear sir
i am working in a company as IT Operator.here in this office all system are IBM branded PCs, iwant to know when we buy a new IBM system they will provide operating system Cd?

Posted by: shamsudeen at April 8, 2006 5:35 AM

hey thanks for this site, it was really helpful, i always have alot of people on my pc and i dont want them copying my documents at school, so thanks again.

Posted by: Tru at July 30, 2007 7:46 PM

Hi Dave, the above given method of saving files with password was easy to follow but while searching with google desktop for a particular word which may be in the file,in that case, will the file details or contents be displayed.

Posted by: basumatkar at March 6, 2008 11:26 PM

Thank You

Posted by: premanand at January 20, 2009 5:00 AM

Is there any API available to make a excel file password protected from a java program?

Posted by: Ravin at February 2, 2009 11:52 PM

How does it work to password in the new microsoft office 7? I tried the above and it does not show that when I clk on tools options security =(
Thanks

Posted by: dn at February 20, 2009 9:39 AM

Hi Dave, I have a question... or a million... but let's start with this one. Could you please tell me if there's a way to create a password-protected file containing pictures?
Thank you

Posted by: Nizama at April 14, 2009 8:16 AM

Dear David
I missed my word file password. How do I crack a password protected Word document?
Please help me
Sincerely

Posted by: Kiyumars Jalili at May 6, 2009 11:47 PM

Hi, how would you put a password on a Microsoft Word 2007 document?
There is no "Tools" tab..[on mine that is].

Posted by: Bree at May 30, 2009 12:52 AM

thanks ya for above information about password set in msword................

Posted by: shanmugam at July 2, 2009 10:15 AM

i have a q how can i add password to an a new folder in the computer

Posted by: sweet at August 9, 2009 10:13 AM

Hi, thanks for this! You were the only one who was able to help me! Keep it up!

Posted by: Loid at September 9, 2009 7:59 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!