You can enable password protection for your Microsoft Word files to avoid compromising sensitive data. We will show you how to add a password to a Microsoft Word document on Mac and Windows.

Add Password to a Word Document on Windows

Let us begin with how to add a password to your Microsoft Word document(s) on Windows. We will use a Microsoft 365 account to show the steps. Do note that the Web version of Microsoft Word doesn’t support this feature. You will have to open the file separately in Word app on your Windows PC and then follow the steps. Step 1: Click the Start icon on your Windows PC, search for Microsoft Word, and press Enter.

Step 2: Open the Word document that you want to password-protect. Step 3: Click on File at the top-left corner.

Step 4: Click on Info from the left menu.

Step 5: Click on Protect Document on the right side.

Step 6: Select Encrypt with Password from the list of options.

Step 7: Add your password and click Ok.

Step 8: Re-enter your password and click on Ok to confirm.

You will now see a yellow-colored box that says ‘A password is required to open the document.’

Step 9: Click on Save from the left menu to save changes.

Now whenever someone opens the Word document, the password will be required.

Bonus Tip – Remove Password From a Word Document on Windows

Here’s how you can remove the password from your Word document. Step 1: Click the Start icon on your Windows PC, search for Microsoft Word, and press Enter.

Step 2: Open the Word document that you want to password-protect. Step 3: Click on File at the top-left corner.

Step 4: Click on Info from the left menu.

Step 5: Click on Protect Document on the right side.

Step 6: Select Encrypt with Password from the list of options.

Step 6: Select the password that you set previously and click the Delete button on your keyboard.

Step 7: Click Ok to save changes.

Your Word document is not password-protected anymore.

Add Password to a Word Document on Mac

The Microsoft Word app is available to download from the Mac App Store. Ensure that you are using the latest version of the Microsoft Word app. Here’s how you can set a password to your Word document on Mac. Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type Microsoft Word, and press Return.

Step 2: Open the Word document that you want to password-protect. Step 3: Click on Review at the top Menu Bar.

Step 4: Click on Protect on the top-right corner.

Step 5: Select Protect Document from the three options.

Step 6: Add your password for the document.

Step 7: On the prompt appearing on screen, enter a password again and click on Ok.

You can also set a password to modify your document.

Step 8: Click on Ok at the bottom-right corner to save the password.

Step 9: Press Command + S to save changes. Whenever you or someone else opens the Word document, a prompt will appear to enter the password.

Bonus Tip – Remove Password From a Word Document on Mac

If you want to remove the inconvenient prompt that keeps asking for password, it’s quite easy. Here’s how you can remove the password from a Word document on your Mac. Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type Microsoft Word, and press Return.

Step 2: Open the Word document that you want to password-protect. Step 3: Click on Review at the top Menu Bar.

Step 4: Click on Protect in the top-right corner.

Step 5: Select Protect Document.

Step 6: Select the password you added previously and press Delete on your keyboard.

Step 7: Click on Ok at the bottom-right corner to remove the password.

Step 8: Press Command + S to save changes. That will remove the password from your Word document. Refer to our guide fix Microsoft Word not working on Mac if face any issues.

Password-Protect Word Docs

Microsoft Word is an excellent option for editing documents of almost all kinds. Adding a password to your document will prevent confidential data and information access. But you might just want to password-protect just a few parts of your document like restricting editing access or enabling content control. In that case, you can refer to our post explaining how to lock parts of a Microsoft Word document to learn more.

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