Remove Word document password

This is how you password protect a Word Document so that it cannot be accessed by others. This means when opening the Microsoft Word document, it will ask for a password to open.

Sometimes it is necessary to protect the documents you type and save on your computer from nosy friends or neighbours. Aha! Or from any other person who wants to have unauthorized access to them. There are many ways of achieving data security on a computer.

This article helps you password protect a Word document so that when you try to open it, it asks you for a password. This means that if you don’t supply a password when opening, the document will not open at all.

Before Password Protecting, Create Backup

Before password protecting any document you may wish to create a backup of the non-password protected folder and files in case you forget the password in the future. Then, of course, the backup should be kept away from where it cannot be easily accessed by unauthorized persons.

How to Password Protect a Word Document (2007)

1. Open the Office Word 2007 document you want to password protect, click on the office button at the top left corner.
2. Click on prepare.
3. Then click on encrypt the document. Type the password you want to use in the provided dialogue box. Whatever you do, please do not forget your password because it will be tantamount to locking your house and losing your keys. Also, you should not let other people know your password unless it is absolutely necessary because it will beat the logic of why we need a password in the first place. Once you click on okay, the computer will force you to renter the password. Click okay after retyping your password; this is done to ensure that there are no typos in the first password you typed.
   Note: Passwords are case sensitive so make sure you note whether your CAPS LOCK is on or off.
4. Save your word document and close it.
5. Then, open your word 2007 document and it should ask for a password as it opens. If it doesn’t, most probably you have not followed the instructions to the letter.

How to Password Protect a Word Document (2010)

1. Click on the file menu and then select the ‘Info’ option.
2. Click on protect document to open a drop-down menu.
3. Select ‘Encrypt with password option’.
4. Type the password you want to use in the provided dialogue box.
5. You will get a confirmation message that a password is required to open the document.

How to Remove Password in Word Document

After you password protect a Word document, you also need to know how to remove the password you have applied to the same. This is quite easy.

The Procedure for Removing Password (MS Word 2007)

1. Open the document you want to unprotect.
2. Click on the office button.
3. Then click on prepare.
4. Click on ‘encrypt document’.
5. Highlight and remove the existing password. Then click on okay, save the changes and close your document. Once you open it again, it should not ask for a password.

The Procedure for Removing Password (MS Word 2010)

1. Open the document you want to unprotect.
2. Click on the file menu and then select the ‘Info’ option.
3. Click on protect document to open a drop-down menu.
4. Select ‘Encrypt with password option’.
5. Highlight and remove the existing password. Then click on okay, save the changes and close your document. Once you open it again, it should not ask for a password.