How to Lock Parts of a Microsoft Word Document

Quick Tips

• You can use the Restrict Editing feature to create section breaks within a document before locking them.
• You can also use the content control feature in the Developer tab to lock selected parts of a Word document.
• Both these features let you select how much and what can’t be edited on your Word document.

Method 1: Using Restrict Editing Feature

As the name suggests, this feature lets you set up editing restrictions for your Word document. You can also use the Exceptions field by ticking the box beside everyone or selecting More users to input the addresses of individuals who can edit select parts of the document.

Step 1: Open the Word document where you want to lock the parts.

Step 2: On the Ribbon, click on the Review tab and click on the drop-down beneath the Protect option.

Step 3: Click on Restrict Editing from the drop-down menu. The new Restrict Editing window should open to the right of your document.

Step 4: Under the Editing restrictions field, tick the box for Allow only this type of editing in the document.

Step 5: Select No changes (Read only) from the drop-down.

Step 6: Place your cursor on the Word document and select the sections other users can edit.

Tip: To select different parts of a Word document, hold down the Ctrl key.

Step 7: Back on the Restrict Editing window, tick the box beside everyone or select More users under the Exceptions field. This will input the addresses of individuals who can edit select parts of the document.

Step 8: Under the Start enforcement field, click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.

Step 9: In the Start Enforcing Protection dialog box, select between using a Password and User authentication to restrict access to the Word document.

Step 10: If you select the Password option, input your desired password. If you select the User authentication option, individual users in the More users exceptions field can edit the document.

Step 11: Click Ok to save your selection.

Step 12: Save the document. After this, Word will lock the sections that you chose to protect.

Method 2: Using Content Control in the Developer Tab

This tab gives you content developer properties to add control over what can or cannot be deleted from your Word document.

Step 1: Open the Word document and place your cursor on the document to select the section you would like to restrict access to.

Unlike the first method, you cannot select multiple sections of the Word document to restrict edit access.

Step 2: On the Ribbon, click on the Developer tab > Rich Text Content Control.

Step 3: In the Developer tab, click on Properties.

Step 4: On the launched Content Control Properties dialog box, name the content control.

Step 5: Check the box for the Content control cannot be deleted and Contents cannot be edited options, and click on Ok.

Step 6: In the Developer tab, click on Restrict Editing to launch the Restrict Editing pane.

Step 7: Now, check the box for Limit formatting to a selection of styles.

Step 8: Check the box for Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.

Step 9: In the Start Enforcing Protection dialog box, select between using a Password and User authentication to restrict access to the Word document.

Step 10: If you select Password, input your desired password. If you select User authentication, individual users listed on the More users exceptions field will be validated before they can edit the document.

Step 11: Click Ok to save your selection.

Step 12: Save the document. After this, Word will lock the sections you choose to protect from others.

Tip: Learn how to create or edit custom properties for Microsoft Word files