How to Password Protect a Microsoft Word Document

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   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.
   

   • If you haven't yet created the document: open Microsoft Word, click Blank document, and create your document before continuing.
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   Click File. It's a tab in the upper-left corner of the Word window. Doing so will open the File menu.
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   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.
   

   • If nothing happens when you click Info, you're already on the Info tab.
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   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.
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   Click Encrypt with Password. This option is near the top of the drop-down menu. Clicking it prompts a window to open.
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   Enter a password. Type the password that you want to use into the "Password" text field in the middle of the window.
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   Click OK. It's at the bottom of the pop-up window.
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   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.
   

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