Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Read-Only Documents.

Read-Only Documents

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 13, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016


5

Sometimes you'll want to circulate a file to other people, but you don't want them to change your words. There are several ways you can make your document read-only. The first, and simplest, way is to use the capabilities of your operating system to make the change. Simply create your document, and then (from outside of Word) change the properties of the document to indicate it is read-only.

The other way to accomplish this is from within Word itself, by following these steps:

  1. Create your document as you normally would.
  2. Press F12. Word displays the Save As dialog box.
  3. Specify the location and name of the file as you want it saved.
  4. Click the Tools button (just to the left of the Save button) and then choose General Options. (See Figure 1.)
  5. Figure 1. The General Options dialog box.

  6. In the dialog box you can specify a password and read-only recommendation for the file.
  7. Click on OK to close the dialog box. Word again displays the Save As dialog box.
  8. Click on Save to save your file.

The only problem with this approach to protecting your document is that anyone can still load the file and then use the Save As option command to save their own copy of the document. The only sure way around this is to save the document in some other application format (such as a graphic image or in Adobe Acrobat) that precludes any use of the information except for reading.

There is another option that may also fit the bill. This involves saving your document as a Word form, which can be easily protected. To accomplish this, follow these steps:

  1. Display the Review tab of the ribbon.
  2. Click the Protect Document tool within the Protect group (in Word 2013 and Word 2016, it's the Restrict Editing tool). Word displays the Protect Document pane (Word 2007 and Word 2010) or the Restrict Editing pane (Word 2013 and Word 2016) at the right side of your document.
  3. In the Editing Restrictions section of the pane, choose the Allow Only This Type of Editing In the Document checkbox. Word enables the drop-down list under the checkbox.
  4. Using the drop-down list to choose which type of allowances you want in your document..
  5. Click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection. Word displays the Start Enforcing Protection dialog box. (See Figure 2.)
  6. Figure 2. The Start Enforcing Protection dialog box.

  7. Enter a password (twice) in the dialog box.
  8. Click on OK.
  9. Save the file as normal.

Now nobody can change your document without knowing the password. It's important to note, though, that the encryption isn't the strongest. A search on Google can reveal several ways to try and crack this type of protection. Keep that in mind and choose the method which best suits your needs.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (111) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Read-Only Documents.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Working With Multiple Printers

If you have multiple printers accessible to your computer, you may need a way to quickly print your worksheet on a ...

Discover More

Replacing a Colon in a Sequence

Sometimes you'll run across the need to replace a very specific sequence of characters in your document. It is for these ...

Discover More

Incorrect Last Modified Date on E-mailed Documents

Word maintains, in a document's properties, several dates such as the date the document was created and last accessed. ...

Discover More

Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Files Opening Slowly If Many Files Exist

Managing large numbers of documents in Word can lead to some interesting challenges. One potential challenge is that your ...

Discover More

A Real AutoSave

When you enable AutoSave in Word, it doesn't really save your document; it just saves a temporary file that allows your ...

Discover More

Read-Only Files

Read-only documents (those that cannot be updated) are part and parcel of working with Word. There are many ways that a ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 2 + 2?

2016-06-23 21:01:00

Pawan

I wants a word documents sheet with good way


2016-01-18 09:27:26

Carolne

Alan, I wonder if this part needs to be updated:

The only sure way around this is to save the document in some other application format (such as a graphic image or in Adobe Acrobat) that precludes any use of the information except for reading.

As far as I know, unless you password protect the Adobe file, you can also do a SAVE AS and convert it to a Word file.


2016-01-17 16:03:00

rhonda froland

I get the great uses for making a read only document. But why does word turn your documents into read only documents when you have not made them such? This occurs regularly in our office and no one can figure out why it is happening. What is causing this and how can we end it? 2010 and 2013 office is in use in our office. This started before the addition of 2013.


2016-01-16 12:21:54

Dave

If I make a *.docm file with a Userform Read Only, will the Userform run so that people can input data and Save As a different (*.docx) document?


2016-01-16 05:51:40

freddy lemmens

I always use Review > restrict editing.
and apply the setting 'No changes (read only). I am used to this because I use a lot of Track changes. In that case I apply the setting 'Track changes' so users cannot turn of TC.


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.