Password-Protecting Your Office 2016 Files

To prevent prying eyes from peeking at your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files, you can password-protect them. That way, if someone wants to open, view, or edit your files, they must use your password. If they don't know your password, they won't be able to view your files.

To password-protect a file, follow these steps:

1. Load Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

2. Click the File tab.

3. Choose Save As.

   The Save As window appears.

4. Click the Browse button.

   The Save As dialog box appears.

5. Click the Tools button.

   A pull-down menu appears.

6. Choose General Options.

   The General Options dialog box appears.

7. (Optional) Click in the Password to Open text box and type a password.

   Another dialog box appears and asks you to confirm the password by typing it again.

8. Type the password again and then click OK.

9. (Optional) Click in the Password to Modify text box and type a password.

   This password can be different from the password you typed in Step 6. Another dialog box appears and asks you to confirm the password by typing it again.

10. Type the password again and then click OK.

11. Click Save.

You can create a password or remove passwords altogether by repeating the preceding steps and retyping a new password or deleting the password completely.