Knowing how to password-protect a Word document can help you prevent unauthorized use and editing and keep your confidential data safe.

To password-protect a Word document on Windows and Mac, you should use Microsoft Word on both operating systems.

and is a common practice for legal papers, business files, and contracts. In addition to these advantages, securing Word files with passwords also comes with certain downsides if not done correctly (e.g., weak passwords can be breached).

Therefore, it is crucial to know how to properly password-protect a Word document and when password-protecting PDF files using designated tools like PDF.net is smarter than using Word ones.

How to Password-Protect a Word Document on Windows

To password-protect a Word document on Windows, you need to open the file, find the password-protection option, and set the password.

Let’s take a detailed look at these steps:

Find the document you want to protect and double-click it to open it.

Click the File menu in the top-left corner

Choose Protect Document and select Encrypt with Password.

Save the changes by clicking the Save icon in the upper-left corner.

How to Password-Protect a Word Document on Mac

To password-protect a Word document on a Mac, you should use 

 to open it, find the protection feature, set the password, and save the file.

Select the Protect drop-down menu and choose Protect Document

Enter the password, confirm it by re-entering, and click 

Enter the password, confirm it by re-entering, and click OK

Upon leaving, save the document using the automatic pop-up window.


Why You Should Password-Protect Your Word Documents

You should password-protect your Word documents to 

, facilitate sharing, and comply with the necessary data regulations if needed.

Let’s see the benefits of Word password protection in greater detail:

Restricting access to Word protects your documents from

. For instance, you may have to upload your file to a drive to which various people have access. Still, if you want to grant file access to specific individuals only, 

it and share the password just with them.

Additionally, you can password-protect multiple files by creating a different password for each document, which allows you to 

manage access for different people and files individually

You can password-protect documents containing sensitive information to 

, as these may lead to various problems. For example, your file may include intellectual property, such as robotic 

 that your business plans to launch in the near future.

If your competitors find details about this, they may use it for their own development, 

. Similarly, hackers may steal your valuable data and sell it to other companies, which can also endanger your business.

As password-protecting a Word document restricts access, it automatically limits the opportunity to modify such a file. This means that your information is not only safe from copying or stealing 

Of course, this is important because some documents may contain data that users must not alter in any way. For instance, some factory machines may be dangerous if not used correctly, and the service manual can be the only source for safe use. So, before sharing the manual in a Word document, you can password-protect it to 

ensure that all instructions remain intact

Due to the rise of technology, many countries, unions, and companies have proposed safety acts to protect people’s 

. Depending on where and what you use Word documents for, you may need to password-protect them to comply with specific security protocols.

For instance, as a product designer, you may have to lock Word files to comply with the 

keep essential business-related data private

Additionally, such regulatory principles are also available globally, including the 

 issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). These privacy guidelines regulate the 

Can Your Remove or Change Your Password Later?

You can remove or change your password after protecting a file 

. All you have to do is open your document, type in the password, find the protection feature, and enter the new password or erase the old one from the box.

While removing passwords from Word documents is easy, you will need a computer to do it or go through a tedious download process on mobile devices. In contrast to Word documents, managing PDF passwords is easier, especially with

Specifically, you can access our tools on 

. Like Microsoft Word, we also offer software for changing passwords and unlocking PDFs, among other security features.

 provides additional security for your files, as there are stronger and more versatile ways to protect PDFs.

This is because Word allows you to use only 

, limiting combinations of different characters. Plus, the option to encrypt Word documents is equal to standard password protection, as it does not scramble the file text but only limits the file access.

On the other hand, you can password-protect PDFs and choose a strong password, mixing different 

symbols, characters, numbers, and letters

. PDF file protection also implies advanced document encryption, which makes the text in your file unreadable and requires a long and complex key for decryption.

to set restrictions for your files. Unlike Word, which only provides editing restrictions, PDF.net lets you disable the option to create new fillable forms and print documents.

Troubleshooting: What to Do if You Forgot Your Password

Accessing protected files is impossible without a password. So, if you forget your password, try your best to get it back by 

checking your password tools or documents

 or asking people you share it with for help.

If there is no option for you to recover the password this way, you can open your file in other programs, such as WordPad.

Another way to restore forgotten passwords is to download and install 

or use similar software online. However, it is important to note that opening secured Word documents in programs other than MS Word may

 corrupt them or render their content useless

. Plus, the success rate of recovery tools is low, as the password-cracking process usually ends in an error or a damaged file.

With all this in mind, our best advice is to create a copy of your unprotected Word document (if it is not public), which you can use in case you forget your password. Also, you can store your password in another file and keep it safe from others. Finally, we recommend using 

tools, such as PDF.net, to remember your passwords

Using PDF.net as the Best Solution for Additional Security

If you want security beyond Word password protection, use our

to maximize your experience. We offer strong protection software, which allows you to create more complex passwords than Word.

Also, you can encrypt PDFs on our website in several clicks for unbreachable security. In addition, PDF.net allows you to set various restrictions and prevent copying, printing, and filling, as well as make PDFs non-editable.

We encourage you to test our software and familiarize yourself with these 

to ensure maximum security and privacy for you and your documents.

How to Password-Protect a Word Document FAQ

#1. How do I set the password for the Word File?

You set the password for the Word file by opening the document in Microsoft Word, clicking the 

 option, entering the password, and saving the changes.

#2. Can I lock a Word document without a password?

Yes, you can lock a Word document without a password 

. Encryption makes the file content unreadable, making it useless for people without a decryption key.

#3. Can you share a password-protected document?

Yes, you can share a password-protected document, as this security measure prevents file access but not sharing. You can email your document or share it via cloud drive, which others can open 

How to Password-Protect a Word Document on Windows & Mac

Learn how to merge Word documents with or without Microsoft Word. Combine multiple Word files or export them as PDFs for easier editing and sharing.

To merge Word documents, you can use Microsoft Word or convert files to PDF and combine them using the PDF.net merging tool.

Combining Word documents is a common practice for 

, as they are usually interconnected and often cover similar or the same business affairs or projects. By bringing everything to one place, merging also facilitates collaboration and editing, and is suitable for archiving files.

Since they offer better formatting and readability, as well as easier sharing, you can merge and use PDFs instead of Word documents. Let’s learn about combining Word files and what opportunities PDF.net offers beyond this.

You should merge your documents because you can use them more efficiently and for more purposes afterward.

For instance, project managers can combine multiple deliverables to have a

at the end of a project. Merging Word documents is also essential for creating long 

, as they contain separate entities (e.g., the scope, the identified risks, etc.) that auditors should present at once.

Similarly, businesses can join Word files and have various 

in one place. As these documents may refer to the same person, business plan, or entity, having them together can prevent excluding their essential parts.

Moreover, multiple individuals may need information from the same project, plan, or entity. In such cases, it is better to 

rather than keep numerous files in random places and hinder accessibility.

Another benefit of joining Word documents is that it can replace traditional bookbinding (if no physical copies are needed). So, instead of manually connecting pages from various books or documents, you can collect materials and use 

How to Merge Word Documents Step-by-Step in Microsoft Word

To merge Word documents using Microsoft Word or link another file to them, you can use an 

Let’s see these methods in greater detail:

Inserting text from a file in Word is a straightforward way to combine documents.

Here are the steps to completing this process:

Open Microsoft Word and select Blank document

Click the Insert menu in the top-left corner

Choose the Object menu and select Text from File

4. Find and select the file you want to add and click 

Find and select the file you want to add and click Insert

With the drag-and-drop method, you cannot merge multiple DOCX files; you can only insert a hyperlink to another document. Still, this is a useful way to connect files without designated Word merge tools, by doing the following:

Drag and Drop Method for Merging Word Documents

 button in the top-right corner to make the Word window smaller.


Press the Restore Down button to make the Word window smaller

3. Find the file you want to insert, click it, hold it, and drag it into the blank Word document.

4. Repeat this process for multiple files or select them all simultaneously if they are in the same location.

As mentioned, this method only adds the folder icon to your document, which you can double-click to open. To have the actual content on your Word document, you can use the 

#2. How to Merge Word Documents as PDF Files (With PDF.net)

To merge Word documents with PDF, you can combine files and convert Word to PDF or use 

If you already have a merged Word file or wish to use Word document combiners/Microsoft Word for the joining process, you can later use the 

 to get a merged PDF. The process behind this is simple—upload your Word document, use the tool to transform Word into PDF, and download your converted file.

On the other hand, you can merge Word files online and export them as a PDF with PDF.net, following the next steps:

 to select multiple Word documents from your drive.


Select multiple Word documents from your drive

Order your files by selecting the document thumbnail and using the 

button in the upper-right corner, and then click 

Order your files by selecting the document thumbnail

Click the Download button at the top-right.


Name your file and click Download PDF (the option to export your file as a PDF will be selected by default).


After merging documents and saving them as PDFs, you can always revert this process and 

Why Convert Word Documents to PDF Before Merging?

You should convert Word documents to PDF and merge them to 

enhance readability, have stable formatting, and facilitate sharing

PDF format is highly compatible, meaning 

all operating systems and devices support it

. Specifically, there are PDF readers for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, some of which are built-in and some of which you can download and install easily.

 to access and use this file type. Plus, most programs and online software (e.g., PDF.net) allow you to edit your documents or change their size or format.

The formatting of PDFs is non-changeable in the sense that all devices that can open such files 

. This allows you to distribute PDFs without worrying whether the recipient can see the content in the original form.

Locked PDF formatting is also suitable for printing. This is because you may take the file to a copy shop or another place where people may prepare your document for printing using programs that differ from yours. In most cases, this scenario will change formatting for other documents (e.g., Word) 

Due to their uniform formatting, PDF documents are typically smaller than Word, Excel, and other files. The smaller the file is, 

the easier it is to share it on various platforms

. For example, you can have a lot of content in your PDFs and still not surpass the 25 MB limit for sharing using most email services.

 and open them easily on online platforms, as they can load quickly. Finally, your recipients can save time and download smaller PDFs within seconds.

3 Tips to Maintain Formatting When Merging

To prevent the disruption of formatting and have neat files after merging, pay attention to 

Here are the most important styling and formatting methods to stick to:

. You should add headings and subheadings across your document. Instead of enlarging and bolding the font, as well as separating it from the rest of the text, you should 

style your headings and level them logically

. Just as page breaks make clear distinctions between pages within a section, section breaks help readers distinguish between the largest document entities. So, by adding them, you can make your file 

 and ensure that your margins and spacing are set equally for all the pages and files you plan to merge. Generalized formatting will also reduce your document’s size (as non-standard fonts can be large) and make it easier to print (almost all devices and programs can read files with general formatting).

What You Can Do With Merged Files (Tools & Features)

After combining multiple Word documents into one PDF, you can 

increase its shareability or protection levels

, among many other possibilities that our PDF tools offer.

Let’s take a closer look at these opportunities:

. If you export merged files as PDFs, you can compress them in several clicks to facilitate 

. You can secure documents after merging with our

 and set various restrictions (e.g., copying or printing).

. To show that everything in your file is authentic, you can add a watermark to your PDFs. Additionally, you can use our signing tool to add a digital signature to your official documents and confirm their validity.

#1. How can I merge Word documents with different headers?

You can merge Word documents with different headers 

 into your document. This will create multiple sections in your file, with a new header and footer for each one, allowing for neat merging.

#2. How do I merge Word documents without losing formatting?

You merge Word documents without losing formatting by converting Word files to PDFs and then 

. The conversion will create PDF files with locked formatting to sustain the combining process.

#3. How do I insert a Word document into another Word document?

You insert a Word document into another Word document by 

 the file from your storage into another one, which you can open in MS Word. Also, you can use the 

 feature in the same program to add one document to another.

How to Merge Word Documents: With or Without Microsoft Word

Learn how to read PDFs on Kindle with three easy methods. Enjoy flexible reading modes anywhere, anytime.

To read PDFs on Kindle, you should use a USB cable to add files to it or send them to the device via email or the desktop app.

—reading your favorite books or other documents at any time and from any place, modifying your PDFs, adapting your reading mode, and more.

In this article, we will present you with the simplest methods to add and read PDFs on Kindle, along with tips and tricks to do so, as well as the benefits you can expect.

You can read PDFs on Kindle after transferring them to the device using the

Kindles are portable devices with various reading modes that allow interesting options for annotating PDFs.

To make your PDFs compatible with Kindle, you can use the PDF.net compression tool to reduce their size or split them into multiple documents, which you can upload separately.

PDF.net offers tools such as Chat with PDF, which can help you 

4 Benefits of Adding PDFs to Your Kindle Library

The benefits of adding PDFs to your Kindle library include adaptable reading modes and time and location flexibility, among others.

Let’s examine these benefits more closely:

You can read PDF files on Kindle after adding them to your library anytime, as this 

. Kindle is also appropriately sized to fit most bags or other items you can use to carry it.

The Kindle screen allows for adjustable brightness, with the option to make it very bright. Still, this does not mean this device has a weak battery life. In contrast, you can use a Kindle for 

Among various features, you can side-load PDFs on Kindle, making the margins smaller and the text larger, which is good for readability. Also, you can switch to reading mode. This mode reduces the 

 emission, which is known to have a substantial effect on the eyes and the human brain, primarily affecting sleep patterns.

 as well, meaning that you can make text lighter or darker, depending on the background, to make it more readable. Similarly, adapting page refresh settings can make your scrolling smoother. Using the same settings, you can turn on page animation to prevent 

 or having leftover text after you turn a page.

Finally, you can read PDFs on Kindle in both 

, which makes the reading process better by properly rendering the page contents on your screen for a clearer and larger view.

highlighting text or adding comments and sticky notes

. This built-in option requires skills similar to those you would use to highlight PDFs with designated tools.

In addition, annotating and highlighting your files can help you

. This is helpful for the proofing process, studying, performing analyses, or summarizing your documents.

#4. Format Diversity, PDF Organization, & Sharing

The format diversity enables you to use different documents and read non-Kindle books on Kindle. Specifically, Kindle supports formats such as PDF, Word, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and 

. Speaking of PDFs, you can use Kindle for any PDF document regardless of whether it is compressed, converted, or modified in any other way.

Furthermore, you can organize PDFs within your Kindle library using the 

 feature, allowing you to sort files according to their genre, type, or similar category.

Lastly, you can share your PDFs after adding them to your library. While adding PDFs to Kindle may take a while depending on your chosen method, sending them from your device to another is much faster (you can do it in just a few clicks).

How to Email a PDF to a Kindle in a Few Clicks

To email a PDF to a Kindle in a few clicks, find your Kindle email address, add a new approved address, and send the PDF file.

Let’s further examine the steps to send a PDF to Kindle via email:

Each Kindle account has its own email address to which you should send files. Here is how to find it:

Blog

How to Password-Protect a Word Document on Windows & Mac

How to Merge Word Documents: With or Without Microsoft Word

How to Read PDFs on Kindle: Top 3 Methods to Add & Use Files

How to Create a Fillable PDF: Simple Steps for Easy Forms

How to Sign a PDF on Mac: Preview, iPhone, and Online Tools

How to Annotate a PDF: Adding Comments, Highlights, and More

How to Resize PDFs Quickly and Efficiently: 3 Methods Explained

How to Save a Screenshot as a PDF on Any Device Easily

How to Compress PDF Without Losing Quality—Quickly & Safely