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How to Encrypt/decrypt Office Files - For Word/Excel/Access/PowerPoint/Outlook

By Jennifer | Last Updated

Encryption is so important as decryption. Especially for staffs who work in office, Office file encryption seems more important than other files encryption and in common use too. So this article would mainly introduce encryption methods for common Office version 2003/2007/2010/2013/2016.

encrypt office file

Microsoft 365 has upgraded Microsoft office to the version of 2016, this article will explain the encryption steps for office version 2016 in detail.

Guide: How to Encrypt Word file

  • Word 2003 and Word 2010
  • The encryption method of Word 2010 is similar to Word 2003. Click File, then Save As and follow these steps:
    1. Click on Tools in the upper right corner of the file save dialog box.
    2. Click on Security Options/General Options.
    3. Enter a password in the box next to Password to open if you wish the file to be completely inaccessible without the password.
    Or you can enter a password in the box next to Password to modify if it is OK for others to open the file, but you want to restrict who can make changes to the file.
    4. Click on OK to close the Security Options box.

  • Word 2007
  • 1. Click the circle Office button on the upper left corner in the surface, then choose Prepare, and select Encrypt Word file from pop-up menu.
    2. Then we can setup password for Word file in the dialog box of Encrypt Word file.

  • Word 2013 and Word 2016
  • The encryption methods for Word 2013 and Word 2016 are similar. please just follow these under steps:
    1. Open the word document, and click File on the left top corner.
    2. Click Protect Document under Info tab, then click Encrypt with Password in the coming option list.
    3. Type a password you like in the Password box. Click OK to close the Encrypt Document box.

word password

Note: The operating process to encrypt PowerPoint file is the same as to encrypt Word file.

Guide: How to Encrypt Excel file

The encryption method and process of Excel is similar to Word encryption basically, which can refer to encryption of Word. But Excel has Protection Function besides that.

To encrypt excel file in Microsoft Excel 2010/2013/2016, follow these steps:
Open the excel file then go to File>Info>Protect Workbook>Encrypt with Password, then type the password to encrypt the Excel file, and reenter it to confirm.

excel password

If you want to learn more, please refer to article about password protect excel file on Microsoft Excel.

Guide: How to Encrypt Access file

  • Access 2003
  • 1. Click menu Tools ->Security ->Setup Access database password.
    2. Enter password in the dialog box of the Setup Access database password, Click OK to Save.

  • Access 2007
  • 1. Click menu Tools ->Security ->Setup Access database password.
    2. Enter a password in the box next to Password to open if you wish the file to be completely inaccessible without the password.
    Or you can enter a password in the box next to Password to modify if it is OK for others to open the file, but you want to restrict who can make changes to the file.

  • Access 2010
  • 1. Open database you want to encrypt in exclusive mode.
    Click File -> Open -> choose database file -> click Open in exclusive mode
    2. Click File -> select Information -> Click Encrypt with password, then a dialog box for setting up database password pops up.
    3. Enter password in the password box, and input it again in the test field. Click OK.

  • Access 2013 and Access 2016
  • 1. Click Open from the file menu and navigate to the database you'd like to encrypt and then select it. 
    2. Click the downward arrow icon to the right of the button. Choose Open Exclusive to open the database in exclusive mode.
    3. Click File ->Info ->Encrypt with Password, then a dialog box for setting up database password pops up.
    4. Enter password in the Password box, and input it again in the Verify box. Click OK.

access password

Tips: How to Encrypt and Decrypt Access Database MDB/ACCDB

Guide: How to Encrypt Outlook file

  • Outlook 2003
  • 1. Click Tools -> Security.
    2. Enter password in the dialog box: Password to open and Password to modify. Click OK to save.

  • Outlook 2007
  • 1. Click File -> Data file manage -> Double click Personal folder ->change password.

  • Outlook 2010/2013/2016
  • 1. Open the outlook file and click File ->Info(for Outlook 2013/2016)-> Account Settings -> Account Settings.

outlook password

2. Double click the file related with your email account under the Data Files, and input new password then click OK to save.

type outlook password

The above introductions are details about how we can encrypt Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Access/Outlook file with Microsoft Office built-in feature.

But unless you have made a backup for the Office password you set, otherwise, maybe you would also forget Office password and cannot open or modify the Office files. If this really happens, try to use Office Password Genius, which will help you to easily recover forgotten Office open password for Word/Excel/PPT/Access/Outlook file on your computer, in LAN(Local Area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network).

Guide: Encrypt Office File with iSunshare SafeFile Genius

If you want to encrypt office file more easily, here iSunshare SafeFile Genius can be a good choice for you. iSunshare SafeFile Genius is an effective encryption tool designed to encrypt files and folders on Windows. It supports all office file of any version, which allows you to encrypt all kinds of office files within simple clicks using a password. Now let's go to install iSunshare SafeFile Genius and have a try.

1. Click on Encrypt button to start encrypting your files or folders.
2. Hit the folder/file icon > choose office folder/file > Click Next.
3. Enter password twice > Click Encrypt button.

choose encrypt option

With easy steps above, iSunshare SafeFile Genius will help you quickly encrypt office file in a flash. Once encrypted, the office file cannot be accessed until you decrypt it with a correct password.

How to decrypt Office File if lost password

Many softwares for recovering lost password for office file, but it may take months or more time to get back a complex password. In my experience, if you remember something about the password, you may use mask setting to recover the lost password in short time. More detail, please refer to Beginner - How to Unlock Word File Open Password in Short Time. If that way cannot help you get back the lost password, you have to use normal way to recover the password, but it may take a long time.

 

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