HOW TO ENCRYPT YOUR WORD DOCUMENT ON MICROSOFT WORD 2013

On this tutorial am going to show you guys how to encrypt your word document to avoid external misuse. Sometimes we think of how to protect our word document file to avoid people editing our work just like pdf files which can’t be edited except the file is being converted, but in this case of word document, you can’t edit nor convert the document except the correct password is inputted.

You can achieve this through simple steps am going to show you right here.

NOTE: First we are going to make the document to be read only, which is different from encrypting the whole document. Setting the document to be read only will only allow any user to view the file but the user won’t be able to edit the document except the correct password is inputted while encrypting the whole document will restrict any user from viewing the document except the correct password is being inputted.

STAGE ONE

RESTRICTING EDITING (READ ONLY)

STEP ONE

Open the document which you want to protect.

STEP TWO

Click on review and click on restrict editing

STEP THREE

Go to the restrict editing panel.

Check the Limit formatting to a selection of styles. To apply editing restrictions to the current document, check the Allow only this type of editing in the document check box. Select one of the following options from the drop-down menu.

• Tracked Changes: This option allows you to track changes made by unauthorized users. The changed text will display in red if being edited.
• Comments: This option allows users to enter comments into the current document.
• Filling in forms: This option allows the user to edit the forms in the current document.
• No changes (Read only): This option restrict anyone from making any changes to the current document.

On this tutorial we are talking about how to restrict editing on your document, so we are selecting the No changes (Read only) option.

Then check everyone check box.

When you are done with your selection. You click on Yes, Start Enforcement Protection.

A protection method pop-up box will appear asking you to setup your password, type in your password, retype the password the password on the second box, then click OK.

You can also remove the protection if you wish to, by clicking on Stop Protection under the restrict editing panel, a pop-up box will appear, input your password then click OK.

SECOND STAGE

ENCRYPTING THE WHOLE DOCUMENT.

STEP ONE

Click on file menu.

STEP TWO

Click on info tab

STEP THREE

Click on protect document.

STEP FOUR

Select Encrypt with password, a pop-up box will appear demanding a password to protect the document

Type in the password and click OK.

To remove the protection, follow the same steps above, but on the encrypt document box you have to wipe the password and leave box empty, then click OK.

 Hope this help. Just StayTuned for more of this.