How to Password Protect a Word Document

Adding a password to a Word document helps prevent unauthorized access and accidental edits. Discover how to lock your DOCX files using Microsoft Word on Windows and Mac, with tips for customizing security settings and managing access.

Learning how to password protect a Word document helps you control who can open or modify your work. Locking sensitive information, like client proposals or academic papers, reduces the risk of unwanted edits or accidental sharing.

This guide explains how to set a password in Microsoft Word on Windows and Mac, outlines advanced security options, and answers common questions about protecting Word documents.

Why lock Word documents?

Password protection is useful for everyone: professionals, students, and small businesses alike. You might be storing financial data, drafting contracts, or writing research you’d prefer to keep private.

Adding a password helps you:

• Prevent unauthorized access when sharing documents via email or cloud storage.
• Avoid accidental edits from collaborators or classmates.
• Stay organized and control who can open or change your Word document.

Pro tip: If you also work with PDFs, you might find it helpful to learn how to password protect them on a Mac or secure them without using Adobe.

How to password protect a Word document on Windows

Follow these steps to add a password to your Word document using Microsoft Word for Windows:

1. Open your Word document in the desktop version of MS Word.
2. Go to File, then Info.
3. Click Protect Document, then choose Encrypt with Password.
4. Enter a strong password and press OK.
5. Re-enter the password to confirm.
6. Save your Word document.

This makes document protection easier than it sounds. Once added, Word will prompt for the password each time the file is opened. To remove it later, repeat the steps and clear the password field.

You can also start enforcing protection by combining password protection with editing restrictions under the Review tab.

How to password protect a Word document on Mac

Here’s how to secure a Word document using Microsoft Word for macOS:

1. Open the document in Word for Mac.
2. Go to Review, then Protect.
3. Click Protect Document.
4. Under Security, enter a password to open the document, modify, or both.
5. Click OK.
6. Save your document.

These steps let you control access and editing permissions directly from your Mac device.

Can I password protect a Word document online?

According to Microsoft Support, Word Online doesn’t support password encryption. You can view and edit documents, but you can’t add or change passwords.

To protect a Word document with a password, use Open in Word to open it in the desktop version of Microsoft Word. From there, follow the steps above to apply encryption.

Customize advanced security options

After you lock your document, you can apply additional protections to control how people view and edit your content (Microsoft):

• Restrict editing: Limit access to read-only or allow edits in specific sections.
• Mark as final: Indicate that no further changes are expected.
• Adjust document properties: Hide metadata like author names or tracked changes.

These settings are available under Review > Protect or File > Info, depending on your Word version.

Pro Tip: Edit DOCX files online with Xodo

If you don’t have access to Microsoft Office, Xodo’s DOCX editor lets you edit Word documents securely online. It opens .docx files through a web browser, letting you modify text and layout on any device.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Go to the online DOCX editor and upload your Word document.
2. Edit text, spacing, fonts, and formatting directly in your browser.
3. Download your updated file or safely share it with others.

Xodo helps you to handle minor revisions on the go without installing extra software. You also get access to 30+ tools to work with PDFs and other digital documents - all in one place.

Answers to your questions

Below are some frequently asked questions about Word security and the password protection process.

Can I password protect a Word document in Word Online?

No. Word Online doesn’t support password encryption. Use the desktop version to add or change passwords.

Why can’t I open my file after adding a password?

You may be entering the wrong password or using a different keyboard layout. Double-check for case sensitivity and punctuation.

Can I password protect Word but allow read only?

Yes. Go to Review > Restrict Editing, then choose the appropriate settings. This will set the document to read-only and restrict editing, without encrypting the file.

How to make a Word document locked and fillable?

Use Developer Tools in Word to insert fillable form fields. Then go to Review > Restrict Editing, enable form filling only, and apply protection with or without a password.

Can I mark a Word document as confidential?

Yes. You can add a watermark that says “Confidential” via Design > Watermark, or adjust document properties to reflect confidentiality. This doesn’t encrypt the file but signals its sensitivity.

How do I remove a password from a Word file?

Open the file in Word, go to File > Info > Protect Document > Encrypt with Password, and clear the password field. Save the file to apply changes.

Is it a problem to reuse the same password on multiple files?

It’s better to use unique passwords. Reusing them can put your other files at risk if one password is discovered or shared.

What if I forget the password?

You won’t be able to open or edit the file unless you remember it or stored it in a secure password manager. Microsoft doesn’t offer recovery options. If you can’t recover the password, you’ll need to identify an earlier version of the document or request access from the original author.

Does password protecting my Word file also provide encryption?

Yes. Word applies built-in encryption when you add a password. Only users with the correct password can open or modify the document.

Keep your Word documents secure

Password protection is a simple way to control access to sensitive Word files. You can add extra layers of security by restricting editing or marking the document as final, all from the desktop version of Word.

Microsoft Word offers built-in tools for encryption, editing restrictions, and document status indicators like Mark as Final.

For quick browser-based edits, Xodo’s online DOCX editor provides a flexible way to work with Word files before applying password protection in Word.