I only want certain people to read a Word document that I’m about to save. How can I give this document a password?
Password-protecting an MS Word document or an MS Excel spreadsheet is very simple, and only involves a few clicks. To password-protect your document or spreadsheet, follow these simple steps:
1. Click on Tools, then click on Options. “Tools” is located at the stop of the screen, after File, Edit and View.
2. A small dialog window with a number of different tabs will appear on your screen. Click on the Security tab.
3. The very first line will read File encryption options for this document, followed by Password to open. Enter your desired password in the box, then click them OK button at the bottom of the screen.
4. A new box will appear on the screen and ask you to confirm the password that you’ve just entered. This is a safety precaution designed to make sure that you didn’t make a typing error. Enter the same password again, and press OK.
Now your Word document or Excel spreadsheet is password-protected. Only individuals who know the password will be able to see the contents of your file. Whenever someone attempts to open the file, Word or Excel will first ask them to enter the password.
