How to Password Protect a Google Document

Google Docs is a widely used free word processor to create, edit, and share documents with multiple people. In Google Docs, the file gets automatically saved on Google Drive cloud storage. Google Docs also takes care of the person who wants to protect his sensitive or personal documents and wants to share the document with only a few people. In this article, we have mentioned three methods and discussed them in brief on how you can protect your Google Docs.

Note: The password protection option isn’t directly supported for Google Docs. A person’s documents are protected by their email account password. There isn’t any way to access the document unless you share the document with them or share your email password.

The password protection option isn’t directly supported for Google Docs. But one can use the below-given method for their reference to do the same,

• Method 1: Using a Third-Party Extension
• Method 2: Using Microsoft Word
• Method 3: By sharing the Document using the Link

This is the method to censor the part of the document that you want to hide from many people and want only a few members to view that confidential information.

Step 1: Open your Google Doc

Open Google Docs in a web browser and create a blank document.

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/

Step 2: Navigate to the Extension tab, choose Add-Ons, and then select Get Add-ons

Step 3: Type the name in the Search Bar and Select the App
 

Step 4: Click on Install Icon

Step 5: Go to Extensions, Click on Add-Ons, and Select Doc Secrets

Step 6: Set the password

Open the DocSecret app, create a password for the document, and click on the start option.

Step 7: Censor the text

Now select the text that you want to encrypt and click on the Censor Text option.

The text became censored, and no one would be able to know the text behind it without revealing it.

Now the user with whom you want to share the document has to install the DocSecret app (Step 1) and will have to know the password to uncensor the text.

Step 8: View the censored text

The user will open the document and have to enter the correct password, which the owner has set, and press the start button.

Step 9: Reveal the text

Now option will come to reveal the uncensored text. Press on it to view it

There you go !! the censored part will now be visible.

Step 1: Open your Google Doc

Open Google Docs in a web browser and create a blank document.

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/ 
 

Step 2: Download the File as a Microsoft Word Doc

Click on the file option in the top left corner. Now click on the download option then click on the Microsoft Word (.docx) option.

Step 3: Open file option

• Open the file where you saved the file on MS Office.
• Click on the Enable edition option and now click on the File option on the top left corner.
   

Step 4: Open the info option

Now click on the Info option then click on Protect Document and then click on Encrypt with passowrd option

Step 5: Create a password

Now create a password and press ok.

There you go your password-protected Word file ready and now you always need pssword to access that file.

Step 1: Open your Google Doc

Open Google Docs on a web browser and open the document which you want to password-protect it.

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/

Step 2: Click on the Share button

At the top right corner, click on the share option.
 

Step 3: Click on Copy Link and Press Done

A window will appear. In general, an option where there are two options:

• In the restricted option Only people with access can option with the link.
• Now click on the copy link option and press done.
   

Step 4: Access to the Document via Link is Subject to Owner Approval

A person with the link can access the document only if the owner of the document allows the access.
 

The owner of the document will receive the email to grant access to the file.
 

Step 5: Set Access Permissions

In the second option :

• In Anyone with link option – Anyone on the Internet with the link can access the document.
• Click on the copy link option and press Done.
   

Step 6: Paste and Send the Link

Paste the link on the search bar to access the document.
 

In summary, while Google Docs lacks native password protection, this article outlines three straightforward methods to enhance document security. Users can employ the Doc Secret app, leverage Microsoft Word’s encryption, or carefully manage document sharing through link settings. The provided FAQ addresses common concerns, offering a practical guide for users seeking to safeguard sensitive information in Google Docs.
 

Is it possible to password-protect a Google Doc within Google Docs directly?

No, the Password protection option isn’t directly supported for Google Docs. A person’s documents are protected by their email account password. There isn’t any way to access the document unless you share the document with them or share your email password.

Is it safe to use third-party tools for password protection?

Many of the third-party apps are genuine and reliable. But a person should read all the security, and privacy policies, terms, and conditions to be extra protective.

While sharing the document in the Restricted option, any person with the link can access the document?

A person with the link has to ask for permission to access the document and the owner of the document can grant access to the respected user then the user can view the document.

While sharing the document in Anyone one with link option, any person with the link can access the document?

Yes, any person on the internet can access the document if they have the link to that sharable file.

Is it possible to edit the document that has the link to the file?

Yes, it is possible to edit the document by the user only if the owner grants access to edit the document.