If you need to protect a sensitive document, Microsoft Office 2007 makes it easy. By following the simple step by step process below you can easily Password Microsoft Word 2007, Excel 2007 and PowerPoint 2007 documents (And even Access 2007 however that’s a separate article).
Using passwords you can prevent other people from opening or modifying your Microsoft Office documents, presentations, workbooks and databases (And yes, I’m still writing the How-To for Access 2007, stay tuned).
Although much of this functionality was available in the Microsoft Office 2003 Suite, Microsoft decided to change things around a bit with their new menu system…
Anyway, just follow these simple steps below for .doc .xls and .ppt files.
1. Click the Microsoft Office Button 
, and then click Save As.
2. Click Tools, and then click General Options.
3. Do one or both of the following:
- If you want reviewers to enter a password before they can view the document, type a password in the Password to open box.
- If you want reviewers to enter a password before they can save changes to the document, type a password in the Password to modify box.
- Click OK when completed & click the Save button. (Don’t forget to give the document a name also)
- ALL DONE!
All Done!
Background
- Password to open By default, this feature uses advanced encryption. Encryption is a standard method used to help make your file more secure.
- Password to modify This feature does not use any encryption method. It is designed so you can collaborate with content reviewers you trust. Is not designed to help make your file more secure. It’s a nice way to allow people to VIEW the document but restrict them from making any changes.
- Both passwords You can assign both passwords ? one to access the file and one to provide specific reviewers with permission to modify its content. Make sure each password is different from the other….
Comments? Questions? Groovy!
Tags: client, encryption, howto, password, word 2007, excel 2007, powerpoint 2007, security
Nice touch.. Thanks for your help
Waiting on that Word 2003 write-up plz
It’s coming…. It’s coming… Stay tuned!
exactly what I wanted. thnx
Thanks a lot, been looking for that for a while
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[...] I wrote an article explaining how to Password Protect Office 2007 Documents. Because the process is so much different, I felt it necessary to write a separate groovy [...]
great stuff, would have been searching forever otherwise
Thanx .
This was the most helpful site that dealt with my question. The grahical illustration was the best. Thanks and keep it up.
Romeo RS
THANK YOU for the feedback! Glad you enjoyed the Article!
Thank you for the help! It really is a GREAT article.
I have tried all the options, password to open and password to modify and both at the same time with different passwords for each option and mailed as a attachment the document to another e-mail address (to test this). Yet i had access to edit etc and was not prompt for a password? I followed the instructions above….what am i doing wrong??
MrGroove
I tried it again. I am prompted to enter password before opening the file and this works fine. Thank you.
How ever when prompted for the editing password with the option of read only i chose read only. I can still edit and alter the document without entering the password and choosing read only. Can you enlighten me please?
BR Carl
@Carl – To prevent the comments section from filling up with Questions and Answers, I have moved your question into the Forum where we can continue the conversation.
http://www.groovypost.com/forum/microsoft-office/modify-password-on-word-2007-does-not-stop-edits-to-document-t95545.html
Please click this link to see my answer to your questions.
Thanks!
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Thanks!
-MrGroove