Lock a document on Mac (2024)

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Table of Contents

macOS User Guide

Welcome
- What’s in the menu bar?
- Work on the desktop
- Search with Spotlight
- Quickly change settings
- Use Siri
- Get notifications
- Open apps from the Dock
- Organize your files in the Finder
- Connect to the internet
- Browse the web
- Preview a file
- Take a screenshot
- Change your display’s brightness
- Adjust the volume
- Use trackpad and mouse gestures
- Use Touch ID
- Print documents
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Apps on your Mac
- Open apps
- Work with app windows
- Use apps in full screen
- Use apps in Split View
- Use Stage Manager
- Get apps from the App Store
- Install and reinstall apps from the App Store
- Install and uninstall other apps
- Create and work with documents
- Open documents
- Mark up files
- Combine files into a PDF
- Organize files on your desktop
- Organize files with folders
- Tag files and folders
- Back up files
- Restore files
- Change System Settings
- Choose your desktop wallpaper
- Add and customize widgets
- Use a screen saver
- Add a user or group
- Add your email and other accounts
- Automate tasks with Shortcuts
- Create Memoji
- Change your login picture
- Change the system language
- Make text and other items on the screen bigger
- Set up a Focus to stay on task
- Set up Screen Time for yourself
- Use Dictation
- Send emails
- Send text messages
- Make a FaceTime video call
- Edit photos and videos
- Use Live Text to interact with text in a photo
- Start a Quick Note
- Get directions
- Work across devices using Continuity
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Use iPhone with Desk View
- Stream audio and video with AirPlay
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Hand off between devices
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Make and receive phone calls on your Mac
- Sync music, books, and more between devices
- Manage Apple ID settings
- Set your Apple ID picture
- What is iCloud?
- What is iCloud+?
- Store files in iCloud Drive
- Share and collaborate on files and folders
- Manage iCloud storage
- Use iCloud Photos
- What is Family Sharing?
- Set up Family Sharing
- Set up Screen Time for a child
- Share purchases with your family
- Watch and listen together with SharePlay
- Share a Photo Library
- Collaborate on projects
- Find content shared with you
- Find your family and friends
- Play games with your friends
- Play music
- Listen to podcasts
- Watch TV shows and movies
- Read and listen to books
- Read the news
- Track stocks and the market
- Apple Music
- Apple TV+
- Apple Arcade
- Apple News+
- Podcast shows and channels
- Manage subscriptions in the App Store
- View Apple family subscriptions
- Guard your privacy
- Use Mail Privacy Protection
- Control access to your camera
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Keep your data safe
- Create a passkey
- Understand passwords
- Keep your Apple ID secure
- Find a missing device
- Get started with accessibility features
- Vision
- Hearing
- Mobility
- Speech
- General
- Connect an external display
- Use the built-in camera
- Connect a Bluetooth device
- Use AirPods with your Mac
- Optimize your Mac battery life
- Optimize storage space
- Burn CDs and DVDs
- Control accessories in your home
- Use Windows on your Mac
Resources for your Mac
Resources for your Apple devices
Copyright

To protect documents from being accidentally changed or deleted, you can lock them. When a document is locked, you receive a warning when you move it to the Trash. When you empty the Trash, the locked document is deleted.

On your Mac, do one of the following:

Lock a closed document: Select it in a Finder window or on the desktop, choose File> Get Info, click the arrow next to General, then select Locked.
Lock an open document: Hold the pointer to the right of the document title in the toolbar, click the down arrow , then select Locked.

To unlock a document, deselect Locked.

To protect folders and disks, change permissions for them.

See alsoCreate and work with documents on MacIf you need permission to open an item on MacGet file, folder, and disk information on Mac

Helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

FAQs

Is there a way to lock a File on Mac? ›

On your Mac, do one of the following:

Lock a closed document: Select it in a Finder window or on the desktop, choose File > Get Info, click the arrow next to General, then select Locked.
Lock an open document: Hold the pointer to the right of the document title in the toolbar, click the down arrow , then select Locked.

Read On ›

Is there a way to lock a Word document on Mac? ›

How to Password Protect a Word Document: Mac

Step 1: Go to Review > Protect Document.
Step 2: Under “Security,” enter a password to open and/or modify the document, then type it again to confirm.
Step 3: Click “o*k”
Step 4: Save.

Sep 28, 2023

Discover More Details ›

How do you password protect a document on a Mac? ›

Require a password to open a document

Choose File > Set Password (from the File menu at the top of your screen), enter the requested information, then click Set Password. If your computer isn't set up for Touch ID, “Remember this password in my keychain” appears.

What happens when you lock a document? ›

You can lock a document to prevent it from being accidentally edited, moved, deleted, or renamed.

See Details ›

How do I lock a document? ›

Protect a document with a password

Go to File > Info > Protect Document > Encrypt with Password.
Type a password, press OK, type it again and press OK to confirm it.
Save the file to make sure the password takes effect.

Find Out More ›

How do I make a Word document Uneditable on a Mac? ›

1 - Click Always Open Read-Only Option

Open the Microsoft Word for Mac and select the document you want to set Read-only mode.
Click the File tab from the top menu bar.
Choose Always Open Read-Only from the option list.
Close the window and click Save in the pop-up window.

Tell Me More ›

How to lock form in Word in Mac? ›

Add protection to a form

Open the form that you want to lock or protect. Select Developer > Restrict Editing. After selecting restrictions, select Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.

Show Me More ›

How to lock a PDF on Mac? ›

In the Preview app on your Mac, open a PDF. Choose File > Edit Permissions, then do any of the following: Set a password for opening the PDF: Select Require Password To Open Document. Enter a password, then retype it to verify.

Explore More ›

How to lock a Pages document on Mac? ›

Open (or create) your document in Pages. The first thing to do is to open your document in Pages. ...
Click Set Password. Click File in the Menu Bar and then click Set Password. ...
Password-protect your document. ...
Open iCloud. ...
Open (or create) the file to be password-protected. ...
Click the three-dot menu. ...
Password-protect the file.

May 18, 2023

How do I restrict access to a folder on a Mac? ›

On your Mac, select a disk, folder, or file, then choose File > Get Info. If the information in Sharing & Permissions isn't visible, click the arrow . (You may also need to scroll down.) Select a user or group in the Name column, click the pop-up menu, then choose a privilege setting.

Show Me More ›

Can you lock a file on a Mac? ›

Right-click the file or folder and select Get Info. You can also select the file or folder and click File > Get Info from the top menu bar. Check the box for Locked in the Get Info window.

Read The Full Story ›

What is the purpose of locking a file? ›

File locking is a mechanism that restricts access to a computer file. For example, applications will often create a temporary file while it is open to prevent others from editing the same file. These temporary files are usually deleted when you exit your program.

See Details ›

Why do people lock documents? ›

If you password-protect your files, the extra layer of security reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Even if you accidentally send the documents to the wrong recipients or share them prematurely, those individuals would still need the correct password to view the content.

Get More Info Here ›

Can I put a password on a folder? ›

Use encryption to password protect a folder or a file

Navigate to the folder or file you want to encrypt.
Right-click the item, click Properties, then click Advanced.
Check Encrypt contents to secure data. ...
Windows then asks if you want to encrypt only the file or its parent folder and all the files within that as well.

More items...

Aug 12, 2023

How to password protect a zip file on a Mac? ›

Encrypt a zip file in the Mac Terminal

Open your Spotlight Search bar and search Terminal. ...
Type zip -er desiredfilename. ...
Drag and drop the file or files you want to compress into a zip file into the Terminal window.
Press the Enter key.
Next you will be prompted to enter a password.

Sep 28, 2023

How do I lock files on my Mac hard drive? ›

Click the Format pop-up menu, then choose an encrypted file system format. Enter and verify a password, then click Choose. To change the password later, select the volume in the sidebar, then choose File > Change Password.

View Details ›