In Microsoft Office 2010, you can use passwords to help prevent other people from opening or modifying your documents, workbooks, and presentations. It's important to know that if you don't remember your password Microsoft cannot retrieve your forgotten passwords.
What do you want to do?
Protect your Word 2010 document
To protect your Word 2010 document, use the following options.
- In an open document, click the File tab. The Backstage view opens.
- In the Backstage view, click Info.
- In Permissions, click Protect Document. The following options appear:
The following image is an example of the Protect Document options.
- Mark as Final Make the document read-only
Click here to learn more about Mark as Final
When a document is marked as final, typing, editing commands, and proofing marks are disabled or turned off and the document becomes read-only. The Mark as Final command helps you communicate that you are sharing a completed version of a document. It also helps prevent reviewers or readers from making inadvertent changes to the document.
- Encrypt with Password Set a password for the document
Click here to learn more about Encrypt with Password
When you select Encrypt with Password, the Encrypt Document dialog appears. In the Password box, type a password. Important: Microsoft cannot retrieve lost or forgotten passwords, so keep a list of your passwords and corresponding file names in a safe place.
- Restrict Editing Control what types of changes can be made to the document
Click here to learn more about Restrict Editing
When you select Restrict Editing three options appear: Formatting restrictions: this reduces formatting options, preserving a look and feel. Click Settings to select which style are allowed. Editing restrictions: you control how the file can be edited or you can disable editing. Click Exceptions or More users to control those who can edit. Start enforcement – Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection to select password protection or user authentication. In addition, you can click Restrict permission to add or remove editors who will have restricted permissions.
- Restrict Permission by People Use a Windows Live ID to restrict permissions
Click here to learn more about Restrict Permission by People
Use a Windows Live ID or a Microsoft Windows account to restrict permissions. You can apply permissions via a template that is used by your organization, or you can add permissions by clicking
Restrict Access. To learn more about Information Rights Management see
Information Rights Management in Office 2010.
- Add a Digital Signature Add a visible or invisible digital signature
Click here to learn more Add a Digital Signature
Digital signatures authenticate digital information such as documents, e-mail messages, and macros by using computer cryptography. Digital signatures are created by typing a signature or by using an image of a signature to establish authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. See the link at the end of this topic to learn more about digital signatures.
To learn about digital signatures, see Digital signatures and certificates.
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Protect your Excel 2010 spreadsheet
To protect your Excel 2010 spreadsheet, use the following options.
- In an open spreadsheet, click the File tab. The Backstage view opens.
- In the Backstage view, click Info.
- In Permissions, click Protect Workbook. The following options appear:
The following image is an example of the Protect Workbook options.
- Mark as Final Make the document read-only
Click here to learn more about Mark as Final
When a spreadsheet is marked as final, typing, editing commands, and proofing marks are disabled or turned off and the spreadsheet becomes read-only. The Mark Comment as Final command helps you communicate that you are sharing a completed version of a spreadsheet. It also helps prevent reviewers or readers from making inadvertent changes to the spreadsheet.
- Encrypt with Password Set a password for the document
Click here to learn more about Encrypt with Password
When you select Encrypt with Password, the Encrypt Document dialog appears. In the Password box, type a password. Important: Microsoft cannot retrieve lost or forgotten passwords, so keep a list of your passwords and corresponding file names in a safe place.
- Protect Current Sheet Protect the worksheet and locked cells
Click here to learn more about Protect Current Sheet
By using the Protect Current Sheet feature, you can select password protection and allow or disallow other users to select, format, insert, delete, sort or edit areas of the spreadsheet.
- Protect Workbook Structure Protect the structure of the worksheet
Click here to learn more about Protect Workbook Structure
By using the Protect Workbook Structure feature, you can select password protection and select options to prevent users from changing, moving, deleting important data.
- Restrict Permission by People Install Window Rights Management to restrict permissions
Click here to learn more about Restrict Permission by People
Use a Windows Live ID or a Microsoft Windows account to restrict permissions. You can apply permissions via a template that is used by your organization, or you can add permissions by clicking
Restrict Access. To learn more about Information Rights Management see
Information Rights Management in Office 2010.
- Add a Digital Signature Add a visible or invisible digital signature
Click here to learn more about Add a Digital Signature
Digital signatures authenticate digital information such as documents, e-mail messages, and macros by using computer cryptography. Digital signatures are created by typing a signature or by using an image of a signature to establish authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. See the link at the end of this topic to learn more about digital signatures.
To learn about digital signatures, see Digital signatures and certificates.
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Protect your PowerPoint 2010 presentation
To protect your PowerPoint 2010 presentation, use the following options.
- In an open presentation, click the File tab. The Backstage view opens.
- In the Backstage view, click Info.
- In Permissions, click Protect Presentation. The following options appear:
The following image is an example of the Protect Presentation options.
- Mark as Final Make the document read-only
Click here to learn more about Mark as Final
When a presentation is marked as final, typing, editing commands, and proofing marks are disabled or turned off and the presentation becomes read-only. The Mark as Final command helps you communicate that you are sharing a completed version of a presentation. It also helps prevent reviewers or readers from making inadvertent changes to the presentation.
- Encrypt with Password Set a password for the document
Click here to learn more about Encrypt with Password
When you select Encrypt with Password, the Encrypt Document dialog appears. In the Password box, type a password. Important: Microsoft cannot retrieve lost or forgotten passwords, so keep a list of your passwords and corresponding file names in a safe place.
- Restrict Permission by People Install Window Rights Management to restrict permissions
Click here to learn more about Restrict Permission by People
Use a Windows Live ID or a Microsoft Windows account to restrict permissions. You can apply permissions via a template that is used by your organization, or you can add permissions by clicking
Restrict Access. To learn more about Information Rights Management see
Information Rights Management in Office 2010.
- Add a Digital Signature Add a visible or invisible digital signature
Click here to learn more about Add a Digital Signature
Digital signatures authenticate digital information such as documents, e-mail messages, and macros by using computer cryptography. Digital signatures are created by typing a signature or by using an image of a signature to establish authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation. See the link at the end of this topic to learn more about digital signatures.
To learn about digital signatures, see Digital signatures and certificates.
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