Word documents are commonly utilized in daily life and work to store valuable information for individuals. Typically, a standard document can be freely accessed and modified by anyone. Consequently, users often seek to password protect Word documents when handling confidential or private data. So, how does one secure a Word document? MiniTool Solution presents several methods.

Microsoft Word, a widely-used and beloved word processing tool globally, allows users to store personal data or learning/meeting materials within Word documents. Generally, a Word document can be opened and edited by anyone. However, this poses risks if sensitive business or personal data are involved. For this reason, some users opt to lock their Word documents to prevent unauthorized access or modification without their consent.

The challenge arises when trying to determine how to lock a Word document (and conversely, how to unlock one). Fortunately, Microsoft Word (versions 2016, 2013, and 2010) offers several built-in features to assist users in encrypting or password protecting their documents.

Tip: Unintentional deletions, hardware failures, and other issues can result in file loss on your device. It's advisable to have a robust recovery tool at hand. This ensures you can quickly retrieve lost files and prevent potential complications. Here’s how to recover unsaved Word documents and how to recover lost Word files on a Mac.

How to Lock a Word Document: Password Encryption

Indeed, you can assign a password to a Word document containing data you wish to protect. Once set, anyone attempting to access the document will be prompted to enter the password.

How to Password Protect a Word Document

To password protect a file, activate the Encrypt with Password feature.

1. Locate the Word document on your computer.
2. Double-click it to open.
3. Select the File menu in the upper-left corner.
4. Ensure Info is selected on the left sidebar.
5. Navigate to the Protect Document section on the right and click Protect Document.
6. Choose Encrypt with Password from the drop-down menu.
7. Input a password into the textbox under Password and store it securely. Losing or forgetting the password means it cannot be retrieved.
8. Click OK in the Encrypt Document window to confirm.
9. Re-enter the password in the Confirm Password window and click OK.

To unlock the Word document later, repeat steps 1 through 6 mentioned above. Then clear the Password field and click OK.

How to Lock a Document in Word: Specific Section & Content Protection

If you wish to lock only specific parts of a Word document, utilize the Restrict Editing feature.

How to Lock Parts of a Word Document

Step 1: Add section breaks.

1. Locate and open your Word document.
2. Position the cursor before the content you want to lock.
3. Select the Layout tab at the top.
4. Click Breaks and choose Continuous from the drop-down menu.
5. Place the cursor at the end of the content and repeat the process to add another continuous break.

Step 2: Enable Restrict Editing.

1. Select the Review tab at the top.
2. Click Restrict Editing beneath it.
3. Find the Editing restrictions section.
4. Check Allow only this type of editing in the document.
5. Specify Filling in forms from the drop-down list.
6. Click Select sections and check the sections you wish to protect.
7. Click OK.
8. Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection under the Start enforcement section.
9. Enter a password and click OK.

Alternatively, you can add a content control and then enable Restrict Editing under the Developer tab.

How to Add Content Control:

1. Open the Word document and select the content you want to protect.
2. Select the Developer tab and click the Rich Text Content Control button represented by Aa.
3. Click Properties and input a Title and Tag of your choice.
4. Navigate to the Locking section and check Content control cannot be deleted & Contents cannot be edited.
5. Click OK to confirm.

How to Enable Editing in Word:

1. Click Restrict Editing under the Developer tab.
2. Check Limit formatting to a selection of styles and uncheck Allow only this type of editing in the document.
3. Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection and input a password.
4. Click OK to save the changes.

To unlock a Word document, reverse the changes outlined above to release the locked document.

Alternative Methods to Encrypt a Word Document

• Consider using features such as Mark as Final, Always Open Read-Only, and Add a Digital Signature in Word.
• You can also encrypt Word files by enabling the Read-only option in document Properties or using third-party encryption software.

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