How to Password Protect a Microsoft Word Document

On Windows

1. 
   Open your Microsoft Word document. Double-click the Word document that you want to protect with a password. The document will open in Microsoft Word.

   1. If you haven't yet created the document: open Microsoft Word, click Blank document, and create your document before continuing.
2. 
   Click File. It's a tab in the upper-left corner of the Word window. Doing so will open the File menu.
3. 
   Click the Info tab. You'll find this at the top of the column of options that's on the far-left side of the window.

   1. If nothing happens when you click Info, you're already on the Info tab.
4. 
   Click Protect Document. It's a lock icon below the document's name near the top of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.
5. 
   Click Encrypt with Password. This option is near the top of the drop-down menu. Clicking it prompts a window to open.
6. 
   Enter a password. Type the password that you want to use into the "Password" text field in the middle of the window.
7. 
   Click OK. It's at the bottom of the pop-up window.
8. 
   Re-enter the password, then click OK. This will confirm your password choice. Once you close the document, no one will be able to re-open it without typing in the password.

   1. You can still delete the document without opening it or entering the password.