How to Make a Word File Read-Only and Password Protected (Restrict Editing)

 

1. Making a Word File Customized Read-Only/password protect/restrict editing.

A Word document can be made "read-only" using different methods. The document will then allow users to view it but prevent editing unless explicitly allowed. Below are the common ways to do this:

Method 1: Protecting Document Using Password

This prevents unauthorized editing by asking for a password to make changes.

Steps:

1. Open the Word document.
2. Go to the File tab.
3. Click Info/ prepare tab in the left sidebar.
4. Click on Protect Document/encrypt documents.
5. Choose Encrypt with Password.
6. Set a password and confirm it.
7. Save the document. Now, users need the password to edit it.

 

Method 2: Restricting Editing

You can restrict editing in a Word file by allowing only specific types of changes, such as filling in forms.

Steps:

1. Open the Word document.
2. Go to the Review tab.
3. Click on Restrict formatting and Editing in the Protect section/protect document.
4. Under Editing Restrictions, check Allow only this type of editing in the document.
5. Choose a restriction (e.g., No changes (Read Only), Filling in forms).
6. Optionally, you can set exceptions, allowing some users to edit specific parts.
7. Set a password to apply the restriction.
8. Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection and enter a password (optional).
9. Save the document.

 

Method 3: Marking the Document as Final (Informational Only)

This option just marks the document as final, but users can still edit it unless they specifically enable editing.

Steps:

1. Open the Word document.
2. Go to the File tab.
3. Click on Info/prepare tab.
4. Click on Protect Document, and then select Mark as Final.
5. Save the document.

This method only informs the user that the document is intended to be final, but doesn't enforce any real security.

2. Removing Read-Only from a Word Document

If you want to remove a "read-only" restriction, follow these steps depending on how the document was made read-only.

Method 1: Removing Password Protection

If a password was set to restrict editing, you need the password to remove it.

Steps:

1. Open the Word document.
2. Go to the File tab.
3. Click on Info/prepare tab, then Protect Document.
4. Select Encrypt with Password.
5. Delete /remove /clear the password and click OK.
6. Save the document.

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Method 2: Removing Editing Restrictions

If you've restricted editing, you can remove the restrictions.

Steps:

1. Open the Word document.
2. Go to the Review tab.
3. Click on Restrict Editing in the Protect section.
4. Under Editing Restrictions, click on Stop Protection.
5. If a password was used, you’ll need to enter it to stop protection.

Method 3: Removing "Mark as Final"

If the document was marked as final, simply undo the action to remove the "read-only" status.

Steps:

1. Open the Word document.
2. Go to the File tab.
3. Click on Info/prepare tab.
4. Click Protect Document.
5. Uncheck Mark as Final.

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