Making a Microsoft Word document non-copyable is a handy way to protect your information from being duplicated without your permission. To do this, you’ll need to use the document’s properties and security features to restrict copying. It’s a simple process that can give you peace of mind when sharing documents.
Once you’ve made your document non-copyable, anyone who receives it will not be able to select and copy the text. This means they can’t paste it into another document or use it in any way without your consent.
Table of Contents showBefore we dive into the steps, it’s important to understand that making a document non-copyable can help prevent unauthorized sharing of your content. It’s a way to keep your work safe and ensure it’s only used in the ways you allow.
Open the Microsoft Word document that you want to protect.
This is the first and most obvious step. Just double-click on your document or open Microsoft Word and find the file through the ‘Open’ option.
Go to the ‘File’ tab in the upper left corner of the Word window.
This will take you to the backstage view, where you can access the document’s properties and other settings.
Click on ‘Info’ on the left-hand side of the screen.
This will show you various properties and settings related to your document, including security options.
Find and click on the ‘Protect Document’ button.
This button is usually located near the top of the ‘Info’ menu. It will open a drop-down menu with several security options.
Select the ‘Restrict Editing’ option from the drop-down menu.
This will open a pane on the right side of the Word window, where you can set editing restrictions.
Tick the box next to ‘Allow only this type of editing in the document’.
By doing this, you’re enabling editing restrictions, which is the next step to make your document non-copyable.
Select ‘No changes (Read only)’ from the drop-down menu below the ticked box.
This will set the document to a read-only mode, which means no one can edit or copy the text.
After setting your editing restrictions, click on ‘Yes, Start Enforcing Protection’.
You’ll be prompted to create a password to remove the restrictions. Make sure you remember this password!
Enter a strong password, then re-enter it to confirm.
The password adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that only you or someone you trust can lift the restrictions on the document.
After entering your password, click ‘OK’ to apply the restrictions.
Now your document is set to read-only, and no one will be able to copy the text within it.
No, a password is required to enforce protection on a Word document. This ensures that only authorized individuals can modify the document’s restrictions.
No, making a document non-copyable does not prevent printing. To restrict printing, you’ll need to use additional settings under the ‘Protect Document’ options.
Yes, you can still edit the document if you know the password. Simply go back to the ‘Restrict Editing’ pane and enter your password to remove the restrictions.
Yes, recipients can still view and read the document; they just won’t be able to copy the text.
While it’s a strong deterrent, it’s not completely foolproof. Determined individuals may find ways to bypass the protection, so consider additional security measures if needed.
So there you have it, folks! You now know how to make a Microsoft Word document non-copyable. It’s a straightforward process that can provide a solid layer of protection for your content. Whether you’re sharing sensitive information, intellectual property, or just want to keep your work from being duplicated, this method will help you achieve that goal.
Just keep in mind that while this can prevent casual copying, it’s not an ironclad solution against determined tech gurus. Always consider multiple security measures to keep your documents safe. And remember, with great power comes great responsibility—use these features wisely and only when necessary. Happy writing and keep that content secure!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.