How to Encrypt a Word Document with a Password?

"I am here to seek help on how to encrypt a Word file on both Windows and Mac. I have this confidential document containing sensitive information I need to share securely. How can I protect this file from unauthorized access?"

This article is here to help you. We'll guide you through the steps on how to encrypt Word files on both operating systems. Let's ensure your data remains protected from unauthorized access. Follow our detailed instructions to safeguard your important documents.

Part 1. The Reasons to Encrypt Word File

Encrypting your Word files ensures your confidential data remains accessible only to those with the appropriate permissions. Here are some key reasons why you should encrypt your Word files:

• Data Security. Your documents are better shielded from unwanted access with encryption. Whether you're storing files on your computer, in the cloud, or sharing them via email. Encryption ensures that only intended recipients can access the content.
• Privacy Protection. Personal information, such as financial records and identification, must be protected. Encrypting these files ensures your privacy remains intact.
• Compliance with Regulations. Many industries are subject to strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA). Encrypting files containing sensitive data can help ensure compliance with these regulations and avoid legal repercussions.
• Prevent Data Tampering. Encryption not only protects against unauthorized access but also prevents unauthorized modifications. This ensures your documents' integrity, ensuring the content remains unchanged and authentic.
• Peace of Mind. Knowing that your important files are encrypted provides peace of mind. You can be confident that your data is safe from cyber threats and unauthorized access.

Part 2. How to Encrypt Word File on Windows?

First, ensure you're using the Windows desktop application. You cannot password-protect a document on Word for Web.

Windows provides a panel to add passwords for document protection. Follow the steps below to set your password, confirm it, and save your document. Remember, passwords are case-sensitive and can be up to 15 characters long.

Before proceeding, if you want to see clearly how to encrypt Word file, you can visit this video to encrypt Word file on Windows.

Step 1: Go to File, then Info, Protect Document, and finally Encrypt with Password.

Step 2: Enter a new password, then type it again to confirm. Click "OK".

Part 3. How to Encrypt Word File on Mac?

Encrypting a document on a Mac is very similar to the process on Windows. The main difference is the location of the panel where you enter your new password.

On a Mac, the panels for password protection for both opening and editing documents are combined. Following the instructions below, you can set passwords for accessing and editing your document. You can choose to use the same password for both or different ones.

Step 1: Navigate to the 'Review' tab, where you'll find the 'Protect Document' option.

Step 2: Under "Security," enter a password to open and modify the document, then type it again to confirm.

Step 3: Click "OK" and save your document.

Part 4. How to Encrypt Word File Using Third Party Tools [Windows and Mac]

In this section, we will show you some third-party tools that can help you encrypt Word file. We will also show some detailed guide on how to use them properly. So here are they:

1. Use Cyptomator to Encrypt Word Files

Cryptomator is an open-source encryption software for Word files. This tool offers transparent, client-side encryption for personal cloud storage. Moreover, each Word file is encrypted individually, allowing you to sync Word files with their preferred local storage. Cryptomator is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Here's how to use Cryptomator to encrypt Word file:

Step 1. Download and open Cryptomator and select your preferred device.

Step 2. Once open, look for the Add Vault button and Create New Vault.

Step 3. Once click, you must name the vault, then click "Next."

Step 4. A new window will pop up. Select "Custom Location" to store the encrypted Word file, then "Choose."

Step 5. Once done, please select where to locate the vault and press "Select Folder." After that, hit "Next."

Step 6. Once done, you need to create a password and confirm it to make sure you didn't make any typos. Then, click "Create Vault."

Step 7. Once created, you can place your Word file as many as you want in the vault. And finally, lock the vault.

2. Use 7zip to Encrypt Word Files

7-Zip is a free Word file encryption tool known for its encryption security and global acceptance. It supports 89 different languages and most major character sets. Initially released in 1999, 7-Zip is regularly updated to fix bugs, add new features, and expand language support.

Here's how 7zip encrypts a Word file:

Step 1. Download and open 7zip. Once open, select your Word file, then click the "Add" button.

Step 2. After that, a new window will pop up. Make some customization based on your wants and create a password. Then, check the "Encrypt Image name" and click "OK."

Step 3. Check your folder and look for the Word file you encrypted.

Part 5. How to Fix Encrypted Word File? [Windows and Mac]

Even with encryption in place, Word files can sometimes become corrupted or damaged. In such situations, you need a tool you can trust to repair your files. That's where the reliable Repairit Word File Fixer comes in.

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• Repair damaged files with all levels of corruption, including blank files, files not opening, unrecognizable format, unreadable content, files layout changed, etc.

• Perfectly repair corrupted and encrypted word .docx files without modifying the original file.

• Provide an easy fix option for text, images, font, hyperlinks, header, footer, etc.

• Support Office 365, MS Word 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and earlier versions.

• Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.10~macOS 14.

• Except Word, Repairit also supports all formats of PDF, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, ZIP, and Adobe files.

Repairit Word File Repair is the one you need to fix corrupted Word files, including encrypted ones. If you ask about compatibility, you can use it on Office 365, MS Word 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and earlier versions. Word documents on Mac and Windows can be fixed with Repairit. You just need to adhere to the software's easy instructions to get back access to your papers.

Here's how to fix an encrypted Word file:

Step 1: Select "File Repair". Click "+Add" to upload your corrupted encrypted Word files. You can submit multiple damaged encrypted Word documents at once.

Step 2: Choose "Repair" to initiate the process of repair. You can see how Repairit fixes your encrypted Word files that are damaged.

Step 3: Click the icon of any file and select "Preview" to view the results. If everything looks good, hit "Save" to store the corrected encrypted Word document in a specified location on your Windows.

Note: To repair your broken encrypted Word file if you're a Mac user, see our Repairit guide.

Conclusion

To protect your data from illegal access, you must learn how to encrypt Word documents. You can quickly and simply safeguard your documents on Mac and Windows by following the instructions in this guide. This provides an extra degree of security for your private and business-related sensitive data. To keep them secure, always remember to choose strong, one-of-a-kind passwords.