How Do You Password Protect Word, Excel & PowerPoint Files?

How Do You Password Protect Word, Excel & PowerPoint Files?

Security is one of the biggest concerns when dealing with spreadsheets or documents. Privacy concerns extend not only to corporate projects wanting to protect themselves against thieves looking to steal trade secrets but also to private users wanting to ensure that their information is secure. As a result, it is becoming increasingly vital that we know how to password protect our documents. This article will tell you how to protect your documents in Word, spreadsheets in Excel, or presentations in Powerpoint.

Variation in terms

Different programs use different terms to mean the same thing. For example, in Excel, the general name of what you are protecting is a workbook. In Word, it’s called a document, and in Powerpoint, it’s called a presentation. Yet, despite the different terms, they are all the same thing: the unit you wish to password protect.

How to password protect your workbooks in Excel

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft and features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications. To password protect a workbook in Excel, execute the following steps:

• Open Excel: Double-click on Excel, readying the program for use.
• Click the file button: Look in the left-hand corner of your spreadsheet, and you will see the word “file,” click on it.
• Scroll down to “info”: Once you’ve clicked “file,” you will see several options on the left-hand side of your screen. Scroll down to the word “info” and click on it.
• Click on “protect this workbook”: The first option on the left-hand side after scrolling down to “info” should be “protect this workbook” click on it.
• Create a password: After you click “protect this workbook,” the computer will prompt you to create a password. Create a password you will remember but is difficult to guess.
• Retype the password: The computer will prompt you to retype the password to ensure you haven’t made any typing errors when creating your initial password.
• Your workbook is protected: Your workbook is now password protected.
• Closeout your workbook: Scroll up to “home” on the left-hand side of the screen, and you will notice if you go back into your spreadsheet, it now asks for a password to continue.

How to password protect your documents in Word

Microsoft Word is a word processor developed by Microsoft. To protect a document in Word, follow the following steps:

• Double-click on Word: Double-click on the Word icon readying the program for use.
• Click the file button: Look in the left-hand corner of your spreadsheet, and you will see the word “file,” click on it.
• Scroll down to “info”: Once you’ve clicked “file,” you will see several options on the left-hand side of your screen. Scroll down to the word “info” and click on it.
• Click on “protect document”: The first option on the left-hand side after scrolling down to “info” should be “protect document” click on it.
• Create a password: After you click “protect this document,” the computer will prompt you to create a password. Create a password you will remember but is difficult to guess.
• Retype the password: The computer will prompt you to retype the password to ensure you haven’t made any typing errors when creating your initial password.
• Your document is protected: Your document is now password protected.
• Save your document: Scroll up to “save” on the left-hand side of the screen, and you will notice if you go back into your document, it now asks for a password to continue.

How to protect your presentation in Powerpoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation program that allows you to represent information in a slideshow format. To protect a presentation in Powerpoint follow the following steps:

• Double-click on Word: Double-click on the Word icon readying the program for use.
• Click the file button: Look in the left-hand corner of your spreadsheet, and you will see the word “file,” click on it.
• Scroll down to “info”: Once you’ve clicked “file,” you will see several options on the left-hand side of your screen. Scroll down to the word “info” and click on it.
• Click on “protect presentation”: The first option on the left-hand side after scrolling down to “info” should be “protect presentation” click on it.
• Create a password: After you click “protect this presentation,” the computer will prompt you to create a password. Create a password you will remember but is difficult to guess.
• Retype the password: The computer will prompt you to retype the password to ensure you haven’t made any typing errors when creating your initial password.
• Your document is protected: Your presentation is now password protected.
• Save your document: Scroll up to “save” on the left-hand side of the screen, and you will notice if you go back into your presentation, it now asks for a password to continue.

Conclusion

It is more important than ever to ensure your spreadsheets, documents, and presentations are secure. By password protecting your information, you add an extra layer of security, making it more difficult to steal your ideas.

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