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Overview
This article explains how to protect sensitive information by adding a password and encryption to Microsoft Word or Excel documents. When a file is encrypted, only people who know the password can open and view it.
How-To
Encrypt a Document with a Password
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Open your Word or Excel document.
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Select File in the upper‑left corner.
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Select Info.
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Choose Protect Document (or Protect Workbook in Excel).
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Select Encrypt with Password.
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Enter a password, then select OK.
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Re‑enter the same password to confirm, and select OK again.
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Save your document.
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Close the file, then reopen it to confirm that it now requires a password.
Important Notes
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Lost passwords cannot be recovered. If you forget the password, the file cannot be opened.
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You may want to keep an unencrypted backup copy stored safely on your computer.
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When sharing the file:
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Send the document and the password separately.
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For better security, share the password by phone or in person rather than through email.
Outcome
After encrypting and saving the document, it will require a password every time it is opened. This helps protect sensitive information as long as the password is stored and shared securely.
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