Read-Only Mode

By making a document read-only, you can ensure that no one else can alter it. To see your security choices, go to File > Info > Protect Document. Select Always Open Read-Only from the Protect Document menu. Simply save the document, close it, and then reopen it. According to Word, the author would like you to open this as read-only unless you need to make changes. To open the document in read-only mode, select Yes. Anyone can, of course, refuse and open the document in edit mode. The idea is to make it easy for individuals to open the document as read-only to make inadvertent alterations less likely. Still, you can permanently remove the read-only option.

Add Digital Signature

To add a digital signature to your document, go to File > Info > Protect Document and select Add a Digital Signature. It shows that you and no one else signed your Document, indicating that you were the last person to update and save it. A signing certificate is required to establish a digital signature. When you do this for the first time, Word displays a message asking if you want to create a digital signature. If you select Yes, a Microsoft support page will appear to assist you in obtaining a digital ID. To get a digital ID, click on the links for the various suppliers.  

Then, press the option of “Add or remove a digital signature in Office files,” click the “Add or delete a digital signature in Office files” link. Scroll down the page to find out more.

Return to the Protect Document button and click Add a Digital Signature once you've obtained the digital ID. Complete the required fields and then click the Sign button. You may be prompted to confirm the digital signature, after which you should click OK. Your document has now been digitally signed and turned into a read-only document. According to Word, a document is signed and declared as final, and if anyone tampers with it, the signatures will become invalid. In addition, the notice of your digital signature will be visible to anyone who opens the document.

Add Editing Restrictions

You can establish exceptions for individuals to alter some parts of your document if you choose the option for Comments or No modifications (Read-only). Check the box for Everyone in the Exceptions section and pick any parts of the document that you wish to be editable.

Add Protection

After you've set everything up, select "Yes, Enforce Protection," then type and retype a password before clicking OK. When you save, shut, and reopen the document, you'll notice that the editing controls on the top ribbon have been greyed out. If you authorized editing in some document areas, click on that section to reactivate the rules.

Select "Yes, Enforce Protection" after you've finished configuring everything, then type and retype a password before clicking OK. The editing controls on the top ribbon have been greyed out when you save, close, and reopen the project. If you are permitted to alter certain parts of the document, go back to that section and reactivate the controls. Click the Review tab and then the Restrict Editing icon to turn off the protection. At the bottom of the Restrict Editing pane, click the Stop Protection option, enter the password and click OK. Uncheck the Formatting and Editing Restrictions choices in the box that appear.