By Jennifer | Last Updated
Microsoft Office lets you encrypt Word documents and PDF files so that no one can view the file unless they have a password. Password protection is necessary to protect the data and private information in the Word document. Using this function, you can add a password to an existing PDF document, or export a Word document to a PDF with the same protection. In this guide, you will learn the simple way to set up a password-protected PDF file from a word document.
Step 1: Open the word document you need to encrypt. Click on the File menu in the upper left corner of the screen. In the Info pane, click the Protect Document button and select Encrypt with Password.
Step 2: Enter the password you want to use to encrypt the document. Click OK to continue.
Step 3: Reenter password, click OK to confirm.
Step 4: Now your word document is password protected. The next time you open a document, you will see the Enter password to open file box. If you do not enter the correct password, you will not be able to view the document at all. Therefore, it is recommended that you write down the password and save it in a fixed place.
Tip: If you change your mind and want to remove the password protection from the document, just click on File in the menu bar and select Info from it, then click the Protect Document button and select Encrypt with Password again. Enter a blank password and click OK. Office will remove the password from the document.
You can export Word documents to PDF files, but saving password-protected Word documents directly to another format will remove the password protection. Therefore, you can follow the steps below to password protect PDF again.
Step 1: Open the word document you need to export to PDF, click the File menu button and select Export. Then click on the Create PDF/XPS button to export the document as a PDF file.
Step 2: Click the Options button at the bottom of the Publish as PDF or XPS window that pops up. At the bottom of the Options window, check the Encrypt the document with a password option and click OK to save the change.
Step 3: Enter the password you would like to use to password-protected the PDF document, and then click OK.
Step 4: After setting the password, enter the File name for the PDF file and click the Publish button. Office will export the document to a password protected PDF file.
Step 5: Now when you open a PDF file, you have to type in the password of the PDF file. For instance, if you open a PDF file in Microsoft Edge, the default PDF reader for Windows 10, you will be asked to enter a password to view it. This is also applicable in other PDF readers.
Tips: How to encrypt word & pdf documents with encryption tool
If you want to password protect a batch of word and pdf documents, a professional encryption tool is more recommended. iSunshare SafeFile Genius is such a safe and reliable encryption software that helps you convert the word and pdf documents into an unreadable form by entering a wanted password.
In this way, the encrypted word and pdf documents will become unreadable unless you enter a right password. Without password, you won’t be allowed to decrypt and check the file. Besides, it also allows you to set file hidden and read-only, which will well protect your document files from being accessed or edited. Go to have iSunshare SafeFile Genius installed on your Computer and all your office files can be password protected with ease.
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