Protect a document with a password

To protect an Excel document with a password, you can require a password to open or modify the file. This adds a layer of security beyond just protecting a worksheet.

Here’s how to do it:

🔐 Protect an Excel File with a Password (to Open or Modify)

📌 Step-by-Step:

1. Open your Excel workbook.
2. Go to File → Info.
3. Click Protect Workbook.
4. Choose:
   • ✅ Encrypt with Password — to require a password to open the file.
5. In the prompt, type your desired password and click OK.
6. Re-enter the password to confirm, then click OK again.
7. Save the file to apply the password protection.

🔁 Optional: Password to Modify (but Allow Read Access)

If you want people to view but not edit unless they have a password:

1. Go to File → Save As → Choose a folder.
2. In the Save As dialog, click Tools (next to the Save button), then choose General Options.
3. Set:
   • Password to open (if you want to restrict access completely).
   • Password to modify (if you want to allow view-only access by default).
4. Click OK, confirm any passwords entered, and then save the file.

⚠️ Important Notes:

• Passwords are case-sensitive.
• If you lose the password, it cannot be recovered — store it securely.
• File-level protection encrypts the entire file, unlike worksheet protection (which only limits edits).