How to Encrypt Your Documents in Microsoft Word and Excel
A while ago, one of my friends called me in a frantic state. She had accidentally sent sensitive information in a Word document to someone who wasn’t supposed to see it.
I asked if the document was password-protected; she was surprised to learn that documents could be secured this way.
I then asked a few other friends if they knew how to protect their documents in case they ended up in the wrong hands, and they weren’t sure either.
If you’re like my friends, here’s how to do it. It’s very simple, by the way. I’ll be using MS Word as an example, but the process is the same if you need to protect your Excel Workbook.
STEP 1: Open The Document:
Start by opening the Word document you want to protect. The file will automatically open on the home screen like this.
STEP 2: Go to the File Menu:
Click on “File” in the top left corner. It is just before the ‘Home’. It should take you to the page below
STEP 3: Select Info:
You are looking for ‘Info’. In the sidebar, click on “Info.” Clicking on ‘Info’ will take you to the screen below.
STEP 4: Protect Document:
Click on the “Protect Document” button. You will see several options like below.
STEP 5: Encrypt with Password:
Choose “Encrypt with Password.” You will be prompted to enter a password. Enter your desired password and then press okay.
And just like that your MS Word document or Excel workbook is encrypted. Use a strong password but one that you can remember. If you forget your password your file cannot be recovered.
STEP 6: Save Your Document:
Don’t forget to save your document after making these changes! Be Careful to protect your data.
