Art of Presentations

7 Ways to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

7 Ways to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing!

Isn’t it annoying when you spend hours and hours creating a visually appealing presentation and do all the hard work, only to find out that your colleague or your manager has made changes to the presentation!

Intentional or not, now you’ve got to make the changes to your presentation again; some of which could have been easily avoided if you were able to prevent the presentation file from editing.

Here’s how to protect a PowerPoint presentation file –

  • Mark the presentation as “Final”
  • Restrict permission to PowerPoint
  • Save the presentation as a PowerPoint Show file
  • Set a password to modify PowerPoint
  • Convert PowerPoint to pictures
  • Convert PowerPoint to a PDF
  • Convert PowerPoint to a video

There are many applications of knowing how to protect your PowerPoint presentation.

So, in this article, let’s understand the 7 different ways to protect PowerPoint in further detail such that you can ensure that the person you are sharing your presentation with, will not be able to make changes to it.

Let’s get started!

1. How to Protect PowerPoint presentation from Editing?

We shall divide the 7 ways into two groups –

  • Prevent PowerPoint file from editing
  • Convert PowerPoint to make it uneditable

Prevent PowerPoint File from Editing

There are actually 4 ways in which you can prevent users from editing your PowerPoint presentation.

You can either mark the presentation as final, restrict the presentation by allowing access to specific users, save the presentation as a PPS file or set a password for your presentation.

All the 4 methods and the process to use them are explained elaborately in the following section –

Method 1 – Mark the Presentation as Final 

By marking the PowerPoint presentation as final, the PowerPoint file will become “Read-only” .

Although this method doesn’t restrict people from editing your file. However, they will not be able to save changes to the original file. When using this method, PowerPoint will force users to save another copy of the presentation file; thereby protecting your presentation.

This method is especially helpful when you share the presentation over the same network within your organization or even when the presentation is saved on a cloud. It is also helpful when more than one person is working on the same presentation.

It is not a perfect fix, but a quick fix to the problem for sure.

The process of marking your PowerPoint presentation as final is given below –

Step-1: Click on the “File” tab

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

The first step of the process is to click on the “ File ” tab, which is the first option in the ribbon of your PowerPoint presentation. This will take you to the backend view of the PowerPoint.

Step-2: Select the “Info” option

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

After you have accessed the “ File ” tab, select the “ Info ” option which is the 4 th option in the tab. This will take you to a new page in the “ File ” tab.

Step-3: Select the “Protect Presentation” option

The third step is to select the “ Protect Presentation ” option in the “ Info ” section (as shown in the image in step 2). It is the first of the four boxes on the “ Info ” page.

After you click on the “ Protect Presentation ” option, a drop-down menu will appear on your screen.

Step-4: Click on “Mark as Final”

From the drop-down menu, select the “ Mark as Final ” option. It is located at the very bottom of the dropdown menu (as shown in the image in step 2).

Step-5: Hit the “OK” button

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

After you click on the “ Mark as Final ” option, a pop-up window will appear on your screen.

Simply click on the “ O K” button and the presentation will be saved as final. Once your presentation is “Saved as Final”, you won’t be able to edit this presentation going forward.

Thus, I recommend that you make this change once you’ve finished your presentation.

Method 2 – Restrict Permission  

The next method is to restrict the permissions to edit a PowerPoint presentation.

In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to protect a PowerPoint presentation and to prevent users from editing the PowerPoint file!

By restricting permission, you will be able to allow specific users to access your PowerPoint presentation.

To use this feature in your presentation, follow step-1 through step-3 from the previous section and then follow the easy steps described below.

The first step is to click on the “ File ” tab to enter the backend view of your PowerPoint presentation.

Step-2: Click on the “Info” option

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Now, click on the “Info” tab from the options in the left part of your screen.

Step-3: Select the “Restricted Access” option

The next step is to select the “ Restrict Access ” option from the drop-down menu of the “ Protect Presentation ” option. It is the 3 rd option in the drop-down menu (as shown in the image in step 2)

Once you click on the “ Restrict Access ” option, another drop-down menu will appear on your screen. Select the “ Restricted Access ” option which is the second option in the menu.

Step-4: Click on the checkbox

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

After you click on the “ Restricted Access ” option, a pop-up window will appear on your screen.

From the pop-up window, click on the “ Restrict permission to this presentation ” checkbox. It is located at the top of the pop-up window.

Step-5: Add the email address of the users

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

In the final step, all you have to do is type in the email addresses of the users with whom you want to share the presentation, in the “ Read ” option.

This will ensure that the users can only view the presentation file and not edit it. After that just click on the “ OK ” button located in the bottom right of the pop-up window.

Now, only the specified users will get permission to view the PowerPoint presentation.

Method 3 – Save the Presentation as a PPS file

Another method to prevent your PowerPoint presentation from editing and thus protecting it is to save the presentation as a PowerPoint Show file or a PPS file.

Saving a presentation as a PPS or PPSX will open the file directly in the presentation show mode when you open the file. Furthermore, when you exit the presentation show mode, the file will close and the user will not be able to access the content on the slides.

To save the presentation as a PPSX file, simply use the file “ Save As ” option, and choose the “ PPS ” file format from the “ File Format ” option.

I’ve written a detailed article on how to use the PPSX file in PowerPoint . If you need the step-by-step guide for the process, click on the link and check out the article for detailed guidance!

Method 4 – Set a Password to Modify PowerPoint  

You can also set a password in order to prevent users from modifying a PowerPoint presentation. This method will prompt a password before opening a presentation.

Although this method will not help if you want to prevent people from editing the file as you will need to provide the password even to view the file. And, once the password is entered, the users will be able to make the changes.

However, this method is super helpful when you want to protect a PowerPoint presentation and prevent it from being access by unintended users.

To set a password to modify your PowerPoint presentation, follow the easy steps given below –

As before, click on the “ File ” tab in PowerPoint. This will open the backend view in PowerPoint from where you can enable additional settings.

Step-2: Select the “Encrypt with Password” option

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

The first step is to select the “ Encrypt with Password ” option from the drop-down menu. It is the 2 nd option on the menu.

Step-3: Enter your preferred password

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

After you select the “ Encrypt with Password ” option, a pop-up window will appear on your screen. In that pop-up window, type in your preferred password in the “ Password ” box. After that, click on the “ Ok ” button.

Once you click on the “ OK ” button, you will be taken to a new page in the pop-up window.

Step-4: Re-enter the password

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Now, all you have to do is to re-enter the password on this page and then select the “ OK ” button again.

Once done, your PowerPoint presentation will be password protected and users will have to enter the password to access your PowerPoint presentation.

Make PowerPoint Uneditable Permanently? 

In the 4 methods described above, you will be able to prevent or protect your PowerPoint presentation file. More importantly, you will be able to share the PowerPoint presentation with the intended users.

However, if sharing a PowerPoint file is not important, there are other ways in which you can protect your presentation and prevent it from being edited further!

Interestingly, the methods described below will allow you to make a copy of your presentation and make it completely uneditable!

There are 3 ways in which you can make your PowerPoint presentation uneditable permanently.

You can either convert the presentation into a picture or convert it into a PDF file or you can convert it into a video. Let’s take a look at the 3 methods below –

Method 1 – Convert PowerPoint to Picture

The first way to protect your PowerPoint presentation is to convert it to pictures.

To convert your PowerPoint presentation as a picture, you will have to use the “ Save As ” option from the “ File ” tab. Simply choose a picture file format from the “ File Type ” options in the “save as” window.

If you need further guidance on how to carry out this process, check out my other article on how to save PowerPoint as an image for full details.

Method 2 – Convert PowerPoint to a PDF

You can also convert your PowerPoint file to a PDF. This is actually one of the most common methods used when you want to prevent your client or colleague from editing the presentation.

The advantage to save PowerPoint as a PDF over saving it as an image is that when you save your PowerPoint presentation as a PDF file, it is saved all the slides in one file just as the case would be in a presentation.

However, when you save a presentation as a Picture, the slides usually get saved as individual images.

Although the process to save a PowerPoint as a PDF is quite similar to that of saving it as an image, but if you are unsure how to do this, check out our other article on how to convert PowerPoint as PDF that details the process in an easy manner!

Method 3 – Convert PowerPoint to a Video

You can also convert your PowerPoint to a Video in order to protect your PowerPoint file!

If you have a lot of animations in your presentation, and you want to retain the animations when you show it to your colleagues or the audience, but you don’t want them to edit the file, then you can convert the presentation to a video format.

This will allow you to retain the animations, and make the presentation uneditable.

Converting a PowerPoint to a video requires you to use the “ Save As ” function. However, there are a few additional things that you may need to keep in mind.

Check out our article on how to convert PowerPoint to Video for a full guide with helpful tips.

2. How to Password Protect a PowerPoint Presentation from Opening? 

You can set a password that users will have to enter before they can access your PowerPoint presentation.

The process to password protect a PowerPoint presentation is elaborately explained in method 4 of the previous section of this article. Simply follow the steps explained in the earlier section and you will be able to add a password to your PowerPoint file.

3. How to Remove Password from a PowerPoint Presentation? 

The process of removing the password from a PowerPoint file is quite straightforward. However, it is important to know the password in order to change or remove the password protection in PowerPoint.

Let’s take a look at how to remove a password from a protected PowerPoint presentation –

3a. If You Know the Password

If you remember the password to your PowerPoint presentation, open the PowerPoint file, go to the “ Encrypt Presentation ” option in the “Info” section of the “ File ” tab and follow the steps given below.

Step-1: Open the “Encrypt Password” option

The first step is to click on the “ File ” tab. Then, from the backend view, click on the “ Info ” option.

Next, click on the “ Protect Presentation ” option, and from the dropdown, select the “ Encrypt with Password ” option.

Step-2: Clear the Password from the box

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Once you’ve clicked on the “ Encrypt Presentation ” option, clear the password from the “ Password ” box.

After you’ve cleared the password, simply hit the “ OK ” button, located at the bottom right corner of the pop-up window and the password will be removed immediately.

3b. If You Forget the Password

Unfortunately, there is no direct way of removing a password from your PowerPoint file.

To do this, you will have to use third-party software that will unlock the encrypted PowerPoint file for you.

The software that we would recommend is “iSunshare” . It is free to use, and you will be able to unlock more than just PPT files. To download the software from their website, click here .

Credit to cookie_studio (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited).

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  • How to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing and Modifying

Roy Ulerio

Updated: January 11, 2024

If you don't want others to open and modify your PowerPoint presentation, you can lock the presentation. Here, this guide will introduce several ways to protect a presentation file from being copied, edited, and changed by unauthorized others.

  • Option 1: Marking as final
  • Option 2: Restrict Access
  • Option 3: Encrypt with Password

Option 1: Make the presentation read-only

If you want to let people know that a presentation shouldn't be changed, you can use the Mark as Final feature. When a presentation is marked as final, typing, editing, commands, and proofing marks are disabled or turned off and the presentation becomes read-only .

Step 1: Click the  File  tab to go to Backstage view.

Step 2: From the  Info  pane, click the  Protect Presentation  command.

Step 3: In the drop-down menu, choose the option that best suits your needs. select  Mark as Final .

Mark as final

Step 4: A dialog box will appear prompting you to save, click  OK .

Save this setting

Step 5: Another dialog box will appear, click  OK .

When you mark a presentation as final, PowerPoint asks you to save the file. The next time you open it, you will see a yellow  MARKED AS FINAL  message at the top of the file. If you click  Edit Anyway , the presentation will no longer be marked as final.

Make it read only

Option 2: Set Restrict Access to Prevent Others from Editing

If you want to prevent people from editing it, you can use the  Restrict Access  option:

Step 1: Click on File tab to go to Backstage view.

Step 2: In Info tab, click Protect Document button. And then select Restrict Access option.

Restrict access

Option 3: Set a Password for Modify Presentation

To protect PowerPoint 2010/2013/2016 presentation, use these steps as follows:

Step 1: Click on the File tab, choose Save As option. Select one location you will save this *.pptx file.

Save as

Step 2: In the  Save As  dialog, click the  Tools  button at the bottom and then select  General Options .

General options

Step 3: Type a password in the  Password to modify  box and click  OK . Reenter the password to modify and click  OK  to confirm. When you return back to the  Save As  dialog, click  Save  to save this presentation.

Password to modify presentation

Then the password to modify will lock this PowerPoint 2016 presentation and prevent it from being edited or modified. Keep your password in a safe place. If you lose or forget the password, Microsoft won't help recover it and you have to remove the password with a third-party utility like PowerPoint Protection Refixer .

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How-To Geek

Can i stop people from editing my powerpoint presentation.

Your options depend on your version of Office, but you can at least make editing more difficult.

Quick Links

Use the restrict access feature (business and enterprise only), make your presentation read-only or mark it as final, password protect your presentation, save your presentation as an image.

To preserve the integrity of your PowerPoint presentation, you may want to try to prevent others from editing it. Depending on the Office version you have, there are a few things you can do to block editing, or at least make it more difficult.

You can use the Restrict Access feature to protect your PPTX file from edits, but this feature is only available for Microsoft 365 for Business or Enterprise , and the feature must be enabled by your organization's administrator in the Microsoft 365 admin panel . That means if you're using any version below Microsoft 365 for Business, such as Home or Family, then you won't have this feature.

Related: How to Find Out Which Version of Microsoft Office You're Using (and Whether it's 32-bit or 64-bit)

If you are subscribed to a version that supports this feature, and if the admin of your organization has enabled it, you can locate "Restrict Access" under File > Info > Protect Presentation.

You can then set the restriction types and file access expiration dates.

Visit Microsoft's official doc site to learn more about Information Rights Management and how to use this feature.

Making your presentation read-only or marking it as final doesn't actually make your presentation un-editable. What this does is discourage others from making edits. It's also good for preventing accidental edits, as it makes you opt-in before you're able to make any changes to the content.

Related: How to Make a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation Read-only

To make your presentation read-only, or to mark it as final, open your PPTX file and click the "File" tab.

Next, click "Info" in the left-hand pane.

Now, in the Protect Presentation group, click "Protect Presentation."

Once selected, a drop-down menu will appear. You can choose between these two options to make your presentation read-only:

  • Always Open Read-Only:  This asks the reader to opt-in to edit the presentation, which prevents accidental edits.
  • Mark as Final:  This lets the reader know that this is the final version of the presentation.

Selecting either option will prevent the reader from editing the presentation---unless they opt-in to do so by clicking the "Edit Anyway" button in the banner.

While making your presentation read-only serves a purpose, it's a weak form of protection if you want to truly keep others from editing your content.

Related: How to Unlock Read-Only PowerPoint Presentations

PowerPoint has an option that lets you encrypt your presentation and only those with the password can access it. Again, this doesn't fully protect the content within the presentation, but if only those with the password have access, the chances of the presentation being edited are certainly lower.

This password isn't stored anywhere on your local machine. Be sure to store the password somewhere safe. If you forget or lose your password, you won't be able to access the presentation again.

To password protect your presentation, open PowerPoint, click the "File" tab, click "Info" in the left-hand pane, and then click the "Protect Presentation" option.

Next, click "Encrypt with Password" from the menu that appears.

The Encrypt Document window will appear. Enter your password in the Password text box and then click "OK."

Reenter the password and then click "OK" again.

Now anyone who tries to open the presentation will need the password to access it.

This method is more secure than simply making your presentation read-only. However, you're merely preventing people from opening the PPTX file. If they have the password, then they can also edit the presentation's content. Be careful who you share the password with. If you're worried the password may have been exposed , change the password immediately.

Related: How to Check if Your Password Has Been Stolen

If you want to deliver your PPTX file to someone, but don't want them to be able to copy or edit the content (easily, at least), then you can convert the PowerPoint presentation to an image file and send it that way.

Open the PowerPoint presentation, click "File," and then click "Save As" in the left-hand pane.

Browse to the location you would like to save the file and then, in the "Save As" box, choose the image file type you would like to save the presentation as. You can choose between:

  • Animated GIF Format  (*.gif)
  • JPEG File Interchange Format (*.jpg)
  • PNG Portable Network Graphics Format (*.png)
  • TIFF Tag Image File Format (*.tif)
  • Scalable Vector Graphics Format (*.svg)

Related: What's the Difference Between JPG, PNG, and GIF?

Once you save the presentation as an image, you can send it out to the desired recipients.

At the end of the day, there's no solid way to 100% protect your presentation. You can kindly ask recipients not to edit the content, password-protect your presentation so only those you want to have access to it can access it, or convert your presentation to an image or PDF , but even with these measures, if someone wants to edit something, they can always find a way.

Related: How to Save Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations as PDF Files

How to Lock a PowerPoint from Editing?

Learn how to secure your PowerPoint presentations with step-by-step instructions on locking them from editing. Keep your content protected!

Profile Picture Sanskar Tiwari

Sanskar Tiwari

How to Lock a PowerPoint from Editing

Open powerpoint, open the presentation.

notion image

Select File > Info

notion image

Select Protect Presentation

notion image

Set Restricted Access

notion image

Make Changes if Needed

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FAQs about Locking PowerPoint Presentations

Can i change permissions after i've locked the presentation, how do i give full control permission to a specific user, can i restrict access to specific sections of my presentation, can users with read access still view my notes and comments, is there a way to remove access restrictions later, related blogs, how to download google forms, how to add answer key to google forms, how to rotate google slides, how to change the slide size in google slides, how to share google forms responses, how to do ranked choice voting in google forms, how to add columns in google slides, how to turn powerpoint slides into google slides, how to make an answer correct on google forms, stunning presentations in seconds with ai.

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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Presentations > How to password protect your PowerPoint presentations

How to password protect your PowerPoint presentations

Learn how to password protect a PowerPoint presentation and get additional tips for keeping your online files safe even as you share them with your colleagues and contributors.

People sitting in front of a presentation

As the most versatile and widely used presentation software, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations often contain valuable content that requires protection. From company earnings results to trade secrets, students’ projects, or the questions and answers to a quiz, it’s essential for PowerPoint users to safeguard their sensitive data and confidential information, so that they won’t be easily accessed by hackers or unauthorized parties in general.

Why should you add password protection to your PowerPoint files?

A password is the easiest way to add a layer of protection to any of your files, and it’s an effective deterrent to ward off those who aren’t supposed to access them. If you’re sharing sensitive information at your work, or delivering a confidential presentation, a password will reduce the chance of a data breach or the misuse of your presentation’s contents.

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Powerpoint empowers you to develop well-designed content across all your devices

There are many ways in which your files can fall into the wrong hands: whether you store them on a removable USB drive, which can be easily lost, or email an unencrypted file to a compromised account, adding a password adds an extra layer of security. If you’re sharing a PowerPoint presentation online with multiple collaborators, consider using secure cloud storage like Microsoft OneDrive .

By taking a few minutes to implement password protection, you gain peace of mind knowing that your data is safeguarded. Be sure to share your file access with only the people who are authorized to see it.

How to add a password to your PowerPoint presentation

Adding a password to protect your PowerPoint file is easy! Follow these steps to password protect your presentation :

  • Open your PowerPoint presentation and select File , then Info .
  • Select Protect Presentation . Here, you have multiple options on who can access, view, or edit your presentation.
  • Always Open Read-Only prevents viewers from accidentally making changes. Restrict Access allows you to select who can read, copy, or edit. Add a Digital Signature secures your file with proof that someone has opened it. Mark as Final lets your viewers know that they’re looking at the final draft of your presentation.
  • To add a password, select Encrypt with Password , the second option in the drop-down menu.
  • A dialog box will open. Enter your password and select OK .

Be sure to remember what your password is, as PowerPoint’s powerful encryption abilities will lock you out if you’re not able to remember your own password. You can use any word or combination of letters and numbers to secure your file and remember that all passwords are case-sensitive. When sharing your password-protected PowerPoint files via email, use encrypted emailing ( which Outlook offers ) for an added layer of security.

Taking a few moments to easily add this security layer can save you from unauthorized access and the potentially damaging impact of a data breach. Whether it’s a presentation in a corporate environment, an academic project, or some personal content, adding password protection ensures that your files will remain confidential and secure.

But don’t just stop there: PowerPoint’s advanced presentation features are effective for all subjects and audiences! If you’re looking to get the most out of conveying information, read these additional tips and tricks on how to ace your upcoming presentation , whether you’re looking to dazzle your audience , improving your public speaking skills , or you’re curious about the 30+year history of PowerPoint .

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Password protection for presentations in PowerPoint

A password helps to prevent other people from opening or modifying a presentation.

Caution:  When you create a password for a presentation, record the password and keep it in a secure place. If you lose the password, it can't be retrieved and you won't be able open or gain access to the presentation.

Add password protection to a file

Select File > Info .

Select Protect Presentation > Encrypt with Password .

In the Password box, enter the password you'd like to use. Select OK .

PowerPoint prompts you to confirm the password by entering it once more.

Save the file to ensure the password takes effect.

Password protection isn't supported in PowerPoint for ODP (Open Document Presentation) files. 

Remove a password from a file

Removing a password from a document is a simple process, but you have to know the original password.

Open the presentation whose password you want to remove.

Clear the password in the Password box, and then click OK .

Co-authoring a password-protected file

If you attempt to open a password-protected file that someone else is currently working on, you'll be able to open it, but you won't be able to edit it. You'll see the file in read-only mode.

Add or remove protection in your document, workbook, or presentation

Require a password to open a presentation

Click File > Passwords .

Under Password to open , select the Encrypt this presentation and require a password to open check box.

In the New password box, type a password.

Note:  To create a strong password, use at least seven characters and include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and non-alphabetic characters such as !,$, #, and %. Do not include your account name or other personal information.

In the Verify box, type the password again, and then click Set Password .

Click OK , and then save your presentation.

Tip:  To remove the password, clear the Encrypt this presentation and require a password to open check box, click OK , and then save your presentation.

Require a password to modify a presentation

You can add a password so that only authorized users can modify a presentation. Unauthorized users can still open the presentation and then save it by using a different file name.

Under Password to modify , select the Require a password to modify the presentation check box.

Tip:  To remove the password, clear the Require a password to modify the presentation check box, click OK , and then save your presentation.

Change a password to open or modify a presentation

Under Password to open or Password to modify , click Change Password .

In the New password box, type the new password.

To open a password-protected presentation: Enter the password for the file in the box.

Passwords are case-sensitive. Make sure you don't accidentally have Caps Lock turned on.

You can try again if you enter an incorrect password.

The file can't be opened without the password. If you don't know the password, you'll have to check with the person that encrypted the file. 

For ODP (Open Document Presentation) files, password protection isn't supported in PowerPoint for the web.

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How to protect / lock a PowerPoint presentation?

  • September 28, 2020

Lee-Ann

Unless you protect your PowerPoint document, anyone with access to the .pptx file can open, copy and edit the contents. Here's a guide to how you can protect/ lock your PowerPoint presentations.

This post is part of our hints and tips for standard PowerPoint features.  PPT Productivity is a time saving add-in for PowerPoint.  If you’d like to boost your productivity in PowerPoint and save time aligning, formatting and reusing slides, visit our homepage and download the PPT Productivity free trial today!

To protect your document, go to the file tab in PowerPoint, select Info, then click ‘Protect Presentation’

In the drop-down menu, you will find 4 or 5 options for protecting presentations in PowerPoint (options available depend on which version of PowerPoint you are running): ‘Always Open Read-Only’, ‘Encrypt with Password’, ‘Restrict Access’, ‘Add a Digital Signature’, ‘Mark as Final’.

Note - This article is about general locking of a PowerPoint presentation. However if you want to lock specific shapes on your PowerPoint slide from being edited – visit PPT Productivity's website to learn more about the PPT Productivity shape locking tool for PowerPoint .

Screenshot PowerPoint Protect Presentation button

Choose which option best suits your needs:

Always Open Read-Only PowerPoint setting prevents accidental changes by displaying a yellow banner at the top of the PowerPoint presentation indicating that the presentation is read only. The reader will need to opt-in to editing the document by clicking the ‘Edit Anyway’ button

Screenshot of PowerPoint Read-only View alert

Encrypt with Password PowerPoint setting lets you password protect your PowerPoint presentation. A password will be required to open the document. It’s very important to note that if you forget the password, you will not be able to open the presentation.

If your organization uses Microsoft 365, you also have a Restrict Access option in PowerPoint. The Restrict Access option allows people to view the PowerPoint presentation, but prevents them from editing, copying, or printing. To use the Restrict Access option, you need to have Information Rights Access set up on your machine. Find more information about Information Rights Access .

A digital signature adds unique code to a message which only comes from the digital ID held by the true sender. If you choose Add a Digital Signature in PowerPoint, you will need to have a Digital Signature set up.  For more information about Digital Signatures visit the Microsoft Support Page .

Mark as Final PowerPoint setting sets the PowerPoint presentation status to Final. Typing, editing commands and proofing marks are turned off. A yellow banner noting that the document has been marked as final will appear at the top of the presentation. Readers will still be able to Edit the document if they click on the ‘Edit Anyway’ button.

Screenshot of PowerPoint Marked as Final alert

Once you have decided which option is best for your needs, select the relevant option and save your document. Done!

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How to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing

PowerPoint is one of the world’s biggest presentation applications in terms of its user base. Millions of users utilize PowerPoint to set up visually appealing slideshows that incorporate various multimedia elements. As presentations present information to people, many users share their PowerPoint documents via email and cloud storage services. However, a lot of users only need to share their PP slideshows for viewing, not editing, purposes.

Fortunately, Microsoft recognizes that some users will need to apply editing protection to PowerPoint documents before sharing them. Therefore, PowerPoint, and other applications of the MS Office suite, include numerous built-in protection settings users can select to protect their shared documents from unwanted editing. With those built-in editing protection options, users can apply various degrees of editing restrictions to PowerPoint presentations.

Beyond PowerPoint’s built-in options, there are also a few other ways users can protect presentations from editing. Thus, there’s more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak, when it comes to applying editing protection to slideshows. This is how to protect a PowerPoint presentation from editing with six alternative methods.

Table of Contents

Method 1. Mark the PowerPoint Presentation as a Final Version

This first method applies a “Marked as Final” message that discourages recipients from applying editing protection to shared presentations. However, users can still apply editing by clicking its “Edit Anyway” option. Thus, marking a document as final doesn’t exactly amount to editing protection. Yet, this option is sufficient for users who only need to inform file recipients that they’ve received final document versions for which editing is not expected. You can mark a PowerPoint document as final as follows.

Step 1: Open a slideshow to mark as final in PowerPoint, and select the File tab.

Step 2: Click “Info” on the left of the File tab to open the options shown directly below.

Info options in PowerPoint presentation

Step 3: Then press the “Protect Presentation” to open the drop-down menu in the screenshot directly below.

The Mark as Final option in PowerPoint presentation

Step 4: Next, select the “Mark as Final” option there.

Step 5: Click “OK” to confirm the selected option.

Step 6: A dialog window will then pop up that includes a message that says, “This document has been marked as final to indicate that editing is complete and that this is the final version of the document.” Select the “OK” option on that dialog window.

Thereafter, recipients will see the “Marked as Final” message in the snapshot directly below when they open the PowerPoint presentation. If the recipients close that message without clicking “Edit Anyway,” the presentation will remain in a read-only mode.

The Marked As Final message in PowerPoint presentation

Method 2. Set Restrict Access to Protect PowerPoint from Editing

Some PowerPoint users will be able to select a “Restrict Access” option to restrict document permissions to read-only. However, that’s not an entirely universal Office feature as it requires Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) Client Service Pack 1 to be installed and enabled. If you have an Office subscription with Information Rights Management (IRM) enabled, however, you can restrict presentation permissions with that option. This is how to lock a PowerPoint presentation from editing with the “Restrict Access” option.

Step 1: First, click File in PowerPoint.

Step 2: Select “Info” to click the “Protect Presentation” button.

Step 3: Then select the “Restrict Access” option shown directly below if it’s available.

The Restrict Access option in PowerPoint presentation

Step 4: Click “Restricted Access” to open a Permissions window like the one directly below.

The Permission window in PowerPoint presentation

Step 5: Select the “Restrict permission to this document” checkbox.

Step 6: Then click “Read” to select an email address from the Address Book for the user you need to apply restricted read-only document access to.

Step 7: Press the “OK” button.

Method 3. Set “Password to Modify” to Lock A PowerPoint So It Cannot Be Edited

If you want to make sure a presentation recipient won’t modify a shared slideshow document, your best bet is to apply a modification (editing) password to the file. By doing so, recipients you share the presentation with will need to enter a password to edit it. However, they will still be able to open the slideshow in a read-only mode. Thus, applying a password to modify is perhaps the most full-proof way to forestall document editing. This is how to password-protect PowerPoint documents from editing.

Step 1: First, open the slideshow you want to apply an editing password to in PowerPoint.

Step 2: Click PowerPoint’s File tab at the top left of the application.

Step 3: Select the “Save As” option on the File tab.

The Save As option in PPT

Step 4: Choose a location to save the presentation.

Step 5: Click the “Tools” button on the Save As window that opens.

The Tools button in PPT

Step 6: Then select “General Options” on the menu to open the password window in the screenshot directly below.

Set a password to mofify in PPT

Step 7: Type a password in the Password to modify text box.

Step 8: Click “OK” to open a Confirm Password window.

A Confirm Password window in PPT

Step 9: Next, type your password within the Reenter password to password to modify box.

Step 10: Select the “OK” option on Confirm Password window.

Step 11: Thereafter, click the “Save” option.

Thereafter, the PowerPoint document you applied an editing password will have a Password window that pops up whenever it’s opened. That window includes a “Read Only” option recipients can select to view the document. You can enter the presentation’s password in the text box to edit it.

Method 4. Save the PowerPoint Presentation With a PPSX Format

PPSX is a read-only PowerPoint file format. Presentations saved with in format are non-editable documents. So, saving a PowerPoint slideshow to the PPSX format is another way to protect it from editing. However, it’s not an entirely full-proof method because recipients can utilize conversion tools to change a presentation’s format to an editable PPT one. This is how to lock a PowerPoint presentation from editing by saving it in the PPSX format.

Step 1: Open a presentation to save with a different file format in PowerPoint.

Step 2: Click File at the top left of PowerPoint’s window.

Step 3: Select the “Save As” option.

Step 4: Then click “Browse” to open a Save As window.

Step 5: Click the “Save as type” drop-down menu.

The Save as type drop-down menu in PowerPoint

Step 6: Select the “PowerPoint Show (*.ppsx)” option on the drop-down menu.

Step 7: Choose a folder to save the file to.

Step 8: Click “Save” to save the presentation with the selected PPSX format.

Method 5: Select the Read-Only File Attribute Option

Aside from PowerPoint’s protection options, you can also select a “Read-only” File Explorer setting for PowerPoint files and other document types. Selecting to apply the read-only attribute to a file will prevent writing to it. Thus, a presentation with a read-only attribute is a non-editable file. This is how to lock a PowerPoint file so it cannot be edited by selecting the “Read-only” attribute setting.

Step 1: To launch File Explorer, press the Windows and E keys at the same time.

Step 2: Open a folder that includes a PowerPoint presentation.

Step 3: Right-click a PowerPoint slideshow file and select “Properties” on its context menu.

The Properties option of a PowerPoint slideshow file

Step 4: Then select the “Read-only” checkbox.

The Read-only checkbox for a PowerPoint document

Step 5: Press the “Apply” button to save the new file attribute setting.

Step 6: Click “OK” to close the properties window.

Method 6: Convert an Editable PowerPoint PPT to PDF Format

Another way to protect a PowerPoint presentation from editing is to convert it to a PDF format. PDF is a universal non-editable document format users can open with PDF viewers and browsers. One thing to note is that a presentation will not strictly be a slideshow in Portable Document Format. However, recipients will still be able to view and read all the presentation’s slides within PDF document pages.

You can convert PPT files to PDF alternatives with the free Online2PDF web app as follows.

Step 1: Open the Online2PDF web app in your browser.

The Online2PDF.com utility

Step 2: Click the “Select files” button there.

Step 3: Choose a PowerPoint file to convert, and click the “Open” button.

Step 4: Press the “Convert” button to initiate the conversion.

Step 4: Then select a folder to download the PDF to, and click the “Save” option.

FAQs About Editing Protection in PowerPoint

Does the powerpoint web app have the same protection features as the powerpoint desktop applications.

No, the PowerPoint web app doesn’t include a “Protect Presentation” button like its desktop software alternatives. However, PowerPoint web app users can select a “Download as PDF” setting to save a presentation in a non-editable PDF format. Furthermore, there’s an “Embed” sharing option in the PP web app you can select to incorporate non-editable presentations on blogs and websites.

What PowerPoint desktop versions are the aforementioned editing protection features applicable to?

The above presentation protection methods are primarily applicable to PowerPoint applications dating back to 2010.

Is an editing password the same as one for an encrypted document?

No, an editing password is not the same because it’s doesn’t block users from opening documents altogether. Users can still open documents without entering editing passwords, but they can’t modify the presentations. Encrypted document passwords block users from opening files.

Does PowerPoint include a built-in “Read-Only” option?

Yes, you can select an “Always Open Read-Only” option on the “Protect Presentation” button’s drop-down menu. However, that option isn’t much different from the “Mark as Final” setting because users can still click an “Edit Anyway” button on its yellow message. Therefore, File Explorer’s “Read-only” file attribute setting is a more full-proof alternative.

Can I remove restrictions from a PowerPoint file I’ve forgotten my editing password for?

There are numerous third-party software packages available that enable users to remove editing restrictions from files. For example, you can utilize Passper for PowerPoint to recover an editing password or remove all restrictions applied to a presentation.

Select remove restrictions in Passper for PowerPoint!

Read More: Best PPT password recovery tools

So, there you have six different ways to apply editing protection for PowerPoint slideshows you share with colleagues. Most of those methods are primarily intended to protect presentations from accidental modifications and aren’t necessarily supposed to be entirely full-proof editing blocks. Methods three and two are the most full-proof ways to stop users from editing shared PowerPoint presentations, which aren’t so straightforward to bypass.

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locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

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Lock up your PowerPoint presentation

How to lock your PowerPoint presentation from editing – the whole thing or just part of it.

This is to complete our look at the locking/read only options in Microsoft Word , Microsoft Excel and now PowerPoint.

Read only x 2

There’s two ways to make a PowerPoint presentation ‘Read only’ – meaning that it can’t be edited, only viewed.

Any file can be marked as ‘Read only’ at the system level.  This means the file can be opened and viewed but no changes can be made to the file.

To do that, close the document in Office.  In Windows Explorer, right-click on the file, choose Properties | General and check the ‘Read-only’ box.

If you open a ‘Read only’ document in Office, you can make changes but if you try to save you’ll be presented with a Save As dialog to save under a different name.  In the title bar you’ll see “(Read-Only)” after the document name.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

This applies to any file and any program in Windows but use with care because the ‘read only’ setting can break programs if used on the wrong file.

Save As options

If you want people to view the presentation but not edit it, consider ‘Save As’ to another format, most likely PDF.

Inside PowerPoint

Compared to Word or Excel, the PowerPoint protection are minimal.  If you were hoping for the ability to make some slides ‘read only’ leaving others editable, you’re out of luck.  There’s certainly no option to lock parts of a slide.

The only PowerPoint protection options are at File | Info and they won’t detain you long.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Mark as Final – is similar to the same option in Word.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

The presentation is only marked as final with a notice to anyone who opens it:

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Just click ‘Edit anyway’ to edit the presentation.  So this option is advisory only with no way to enforce it.

Encrypt with Password – this requires a password to open the presentation at all.

That’s it for PowerPoint.

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Locklizard

Protect PowerPoint Presentation

How to protect a powerpoint being copied, restrict access & lock editing.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  • Stop unauthorized access
  • Stop sharing and distribution
  • Strong US Gov strength encryption, DRM and licensing controls

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  • Stop editing, copying and screen grabs
  • Stop printing or control the number of prints
  • Lock PDF files to devices and locations

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  • on a fixed date
  • after a number of days use
  • after a number of views and/or prints

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  • revoke a document for all users instantly
  • revoke individual user access to single, multiple, or all documents
  • revoke access automatically after a number of views and/or prints

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

You only have to protect a document once in order to customize it for multiple users.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  • track and log document views
  • track and log document prints
  • see what devices & operating systems users are using

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  • Ensure only authorized parties can view confidential documents
  • Enforce document retention policies with automatic expiry
  • Log use for proof of when documents are viewed and printed

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

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Protect powerpoint slides: restrict access, prevent editing & copying, add expiration.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  How can I protect PowerPoint presentations?

So, you have invested hundreds of hours into creating your PowerPoint presentations, and now you realize you need to protect them.  Though they are often overlooked, PowerPoint presentations carry plenty of information that could harm a business.  Anything from revenue figures to acquisition prospects or client details may be presented at one point or another.

After the meeting concludes, the ppt or pptx file is often shared unprotected with the participants to recap, leading to their inevitable leak.  Training companies that sell PowerPoint presentations as part of course materials also need to prevent them from being copied and shared with users that have not purchased them, or from being edited and sold on.

Below are the security options available to protect presentation slides (.pptx files) so you can prevent them from being shared, copied and edited.

  Are PowerPoints subject to copyright protection?

You have probably wondered ‘Does copyright protect powerpoint diagrams?’.  Just as with any media, you have an inherent right to control the distribution of content inside your PowerPoint presentation (provided it was created by you).  This extends to images, text, video, etc.  However, legally holding the rights to a work does very little to prevent it from being copied and distributed without your permission.  You can add a copyright symbol and disclaimer to your PowerPoint slides, but it’s likely it’ll just be ignored and can be easily removed.  If copyright notices were an effective way of preventing unauthorized distribution, piracy would be virtually non-existent.

In other words, it’s down to you to enforce your copyright by using the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and lawyers.  You could take somebody to court every time they infringe your copyright, but that would be costly, time-consuming, and wouldn’t erase the harm they’d already done.  It’s better to take measures to stop them from being able to do so in the first place.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  Password protect PowerPoint

Applying passwords to protect PowerPoint files (PPT, PPTX, PPS, PPPX)  is the cheapest solution for PowerPoint Security (it is free with PowerPoint) but also the least secure.

There are two types of passwords that can be used to password protect PowerPoint files:

  • the open password which is used to restrict access
  • the modify password which is used to restrict editing

Both have major weaknesses:

  • The open password can be cracked (if unknown), or shared or removed (if known).
  • The modify password is very easy to remove as it does not utilize encryption.  It’s primarily intended to stop accidental editing rather than unauthorized editing.  Once a user can edit a PowerPoint they have full control over it and can remove watermarks and copyright notices.

Here’s how easy it is to remove password protection in PowerPoint:

  How to open a password-protected PowerPoint file

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

   How to edit a protected PowerPoint presentation

It is really easy to remove edit restrictions in PowerPoint.  Users can:

  • copy and paste content to another presentation
  • save or print to PDF and then convert back to PPTX format
  • screenshot to bypass the restrictions

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  • https://passper.imyfone.com/powerpoint-password-recovery/
  • https://www.elcomsoft.com/aopr.html
  • https://www.isumsoft.com/powerpoint-protection-refixer/

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

How to password protect a PowerPoint presentation & restrict opening

If you want to add an open/viewing password to your document despite the flaws mentioned above, this is how you do it:

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  How to password protect a PowerPoint presentation & restrict editing

If you’d like to lock a PowerPoint from editing with a password despite its drawbacks (perhaps you just want to stop accidental editing) here’s how:

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

You will see that even Microsoft warns you that an editing password is not a secure feature and will not stop malicious users from editing or copying the document.  Though it does restrict editing in PowerPoint, it only does so on a surface level.  Users can easily remove the editing protecting using the techniques outlined above.

  Lock a PowerPoint from editing by converting it to images

Before we move on to other protection solutions, it’s worth quickly clarifying claims that saving your PowerPoint presentation as images will permanently prevent editing.

You can’t easily edit or copy text from an image, right?  Well, that’s not quite true.  Optical character recognition tools can take the images and turn them right back into an editable PowerPoint file again.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  PowerPoint read only mode & preventing editing

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

PowerPoint’s read-only mode lets you restrict editing without the use of a password.  It does so by displaying a warning message when users try to edit text or images.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

If you want to save or make a PowerPoint read only or lock PowerPoint from editing, then you need to save it as a PDF and protect it with Locklizard Safeguard.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  • Recipients need to have purchased the full version of PowerPoint to view your protected presentations (the free PowerPoint Viewer does not support IRM).  This is not ideal if you work with freelancers or external parties.
  • You have to specify who the recipients are when you protect the PowerPoint presentation file.  This makes it very inconvenient if you want other users to access this at a later date (you will have to protect it all over again).  Clearly, this is a system designed purely for internal use and requires you to know from the start ALL the users that will ever want to access this presentation.
  • Access controls are unhelpful.  You either give users read access (no permission to modify, copy print), change access (modify, copy, but no print), or full control (same rights as the author – can modify, print, set expiry).  So, if you want users to be able to print your PowerPoint Presentations you have to let them copy, edit, modify, and change expiry too.  Far from ideal from a security standpoint.
  • The system does not prevent third-party screen grabbers from taking screenshots of your PowerPoint slides.
  • Links to external sources (MP3/MP4 files, etc.) are not protected, so your video and audio is available for everyone to copy and share.

In conclusion, using Microsoft IRM for PowerPoint Security is only helpful in limited situations, and it does not completely protect PowerPoint presentations.  Even Azure information protection restrictions can be bypassed if a user has been given view access.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Once your PowerPoint presentation has been converted to a PDF file, you can secure it using Safeguard PDF Security.

Safeguard PDF Security protects PowerPoint presentations from unauthorized:

  • screen grabbing

Safeguard PDF Security automatically locks PowerPoint slides to authorized devices so they cannot be shared.  You restrict who can access your protected PowerPoint slides, the amount of time they can be viewed, and whether they can be printed.  And if you decide that you no longer want users to be able to view them, then you can instantly revoke access.

You choose:

  • when your presentations expire (if at all) – number of views, days, prints, or fixed date
  • whether they can be printed – deny or allow printing or limit the number of prints
  • if they should be revoked – revoke presentations anytime regardless of where they are located
  • whether content should be watermarked at view/print time dynamically with personal user identifying information

And with  Safeguard Enterprise PDF DRM  you can:

  • control the locations users can view your PowerPoint presentations (country & IP location) to ensure confidential material can only be viewed from, say, the office
  • track and log when slides are viewed and printed

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Though it is tempting to use something like Adobe Acrobat or Foxit PDF password protection , these have the exact same problem as PowerPoint password protection – the modify permissions are easily removed and the document open protection  does not prevent unauthorized sharing.

  How to save a PowerPoint presentation as a secure PDF

The process of locking a PowerPoint presentation file to prevent it from being copied/edited is a two-step one: save to PDF, followed by protection in Safeguard Secure PDF Writer.

How to convert a Powerpoint to PDF

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Note that converting a PowerPoint to a PDF will naturally remove its functionality as an interactive presentation.

How to lock a PowerPoint from editing and copying with Locklizard Safeguard

Once you have converted your PowerPoint to PDF, protecting it with Safeguard is a simple matter:

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Creating a protected presentation

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Encrypting a PowerPoint without passwords using Safeguard PDF DRM

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Safeguard Admin System

  • Distribute your protected PDF however you like, or see how to share a PDF document as a link for instructions on sharing via cloud storage.

For a more detailed guide see  how to add security to a PDF or check our blog on how to lock a Word doc , which has many parallels to PowerPoint security.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

The strength of your watermarks depends on the strength of your copy protection and editing restrictions.  If your editing restrictions are easily removed then so is your watermark – the user can just delete the watermark in PowerPoint.  As we’ve already covered, PowerPoint’s editing restrictions are useless, so PowerPoint watermarks are too.

You can see how to add or insert a watermark in PowerPoint here which also explains just how easy it is for users to remove them.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  How can you set expiration in PowerPoint?

It is not possible to set a PowerPoint to expire without the help of third-party applications or IRM services.  Though there is an add-in called PPTExpire, it has been in development for years and is yet to release to the public.  Plugins of this sort also typically pose a security risk and do not work as advertised.

One option is to upload your PowerPoint to OneDrive and share a link with an expiration date.  However, this will give you far less protection than you anticipate.  Browsers are unable to effectively enforce anti-copying controls because they just do not have enough control over the operating system.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  How to set a PowerPoint to expire with Safeguard Security

In Safeguard Secure PDF Writer, choose the expiry options you want to apply:

  • Expiration Date – expires on the date that you select here.
  • After n days from first use – expires a number of days after it is first opened.
  • Views – expires after it has been viewed n times.
  • Prints – expires after it has been printed n times.

Expiry days, views, and prints are allocated on a user basis – so the same file can expire at different times for individual users.

Once you have chosen your PowerPoint expiration date options, press the Publish button.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Locklizard uses US government-strength AES encryption, public key technology, Digital Rights Management, and licensing controls to ensure your presentations remain protected regardless of their location.  If you want to make or save a PowerPoint as read only then only DRM protection can achieve this.

See our  customer testimonials  or read our  case studies  to see why thousands of organizations use Locklizard PDF security to protect, share and sell their documents securely.

Protecting Microsoft Office files

Looking to protect other MS-Office files to restrict access, copying, editing, printing and sharing?

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Can PowerPoints be encrypted?

Most document formats can be encrypted, including PowerPoints.  If you password protect PowerPoint files it will encrypt them using AES encryption.

However, it’s important to be aware of the strength of the encryption and encryption mechanism .  Password-based encryption is inherently less secure, because it takes (for example) a random, 256-bit encryption key and links it to a short, human-chosen, and often insecure string of characters.  Microsoft state that “You cannot enable a strong encryption file by using password protection.”

How do I password protect PowerPoint files?

  • Select File > Info.
  • Select Protect Presentation > Encrypt with Password.
  • In the Password field, enter the password and press OK.
  • Re-enter the password to confirm it.
  • Save the PPT / PPTX file so that the password takes effect.

Is there a way to encrypt PowerPoint slides?

Though you can’t encrypt individual slides within a larger PowerPoint presentation or Show, you can export those slides as a PDF and use a PDF DRM solution to encrypt them.  This has the additional advantage of not relying on password security.

Does Locklizard use asymmetric or symmetric encryption to protect Powerpoint slides?

We use both.  RSA asymmetric encryption for key exchange and AES 256 bit symmetric encryption for file encryption.

What is PowerPoint protected view or protected mode?

Protected view or protected mode is a read-only mode that is automatically applied to MS Office file types when the file has potentially come from an unsafe location.  It is used to protect users from viruses and other malicious code from being executed rather than a copy protection feature to restrict editing or make a PowerPoint read only.  It is not the same as creating a read-only file that cannot be edited.

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

Why can’t you bypass a password-locked PowerPoint document without brute force?

PowerPoint uses 256-bit AES to encrypt the entire pptx document or ppt files.  This form of encryption would take current computers millions of years to break, and Microsoft’s implementation does not have any known shortcuts or vulnerabilities.

However, to say that you can’t bypass the document without brute force is not true.  As a password is used to unlock the document, any of the traditional password attack methods can be utilized.  This includes obtaining it from a party who already knows it through social engineering, phishing, etc.

How do I protect a PowerPoint from being changed or make it read only?

Convert it to a PDF, then encrypt it and apply editing controls with a PDF DRM solution to make it read only.  The same applies if you want to copyright protect a pptx file to read only or make a ppt uneditable permanently.

PowerPoint’s editing protection is easily bypassed, protected view mode can be turned off, and converting to images doesn’t work either as they can be run through an OCR recognition tool.

How do I protect a PowerPoint presentation from being copied?

Unauthorized copying is all but impossible to prevent.  Instead, you need to:

  • Make any copied file useless (inaccessible without a requisite license file)
  • Lock the presentation to a device so it cannot be shared
  • Restrict editing, copy and paste, screenshots and printing
  • Add watermarks that identify users should they share a printed or photographed copy

Locklizard Safeguard DRM can achieve all of these goals, stopping users from making a copy of your presentation and protecting your important files and intellectual property.

How do I remove encryption from a PowerPoint presentation?

It depends on the method of encryption.  If you applied PowerPoint password encryption (used to password protect PowerPoint files), you’ll need to either obtain and enter the password or brute force it.  Documents encrypted with Locklizard Safeguard do not use passwords, and therefore encryption cannot be removed.  The only way to obtain an unencrypted version of the document is to ask the creator for it.

Does adding a digital signature make a PowerPoint file more secure?

A digital signature is an invisible signature used for authentication purposes.  It differs from an electronic signature (a visible image of your written signature) but can be used in conjunction with it.  A digital signature is an encrypted stamp of authentication and is created by using a signing certificate, which if issued by a reputable Certificate Authority, proves identity.

Adding a digital signature to a PowerPoint presentation confirms that the information originated from the signer and has not been altered.  Recipients need your certificate and public key to verify the signature.  So, if users remove editing restrictions from a PowerPoint presentation and alter it after it has been digitally signed then you will be alerted to this.

How do you share a PowerPoint securely?

First of all, by avoiding OneDrive and other cloud sharing services.  Browser security is too easily to manipulate and bypass, not to mention the freely available download button Microsoft provides.  So if it is your responsibility to protect PowerPoint presentations from being shared then you need to look at more secure alternatives.

The most secure way to share PowerPoint files is to save them as a PDF, protect them with Safeguard DRM, and then send the encrypted .pdc file to the recipient or distribute it by other means.  This is also the most secure way to share PowerPoint files online.  While one might be tempted to use Azure information protection (RMS) or Adobe Document Cloud security , they both have multiple security issues, are complex to setup / maintain, and costly.

If I use a password to protect PowerPoint files will it restrict access?

You can use a password to restrict access to PowerPoint files.  However, bear in mind that if you want to share a PowerPoint securely, then anyone you give the password to can share it with others or just remove it.  If you therefore use a password to protect PowerPoint files, you have no control over who can access your PowerPoint presentations or slides.

Does Locklizard provide Digital Rights Management for PPT and PPTX files?

PPT and PPTX files have to be saved to PDF format before they can be protected with Locklizard DRM.

How to save a PowerPoint as a secure PDF?

  • Within PowerPoint, save the PowerPoint deck or presentation to a PDF (File menu > Save As > Save as type: PDF).
  • While you can password protect a PDF the restrictions or permissions are so easy for users to remove they are not worth adding to begin with.
  • If you want to secure the PDF and prevent sharing, stop copying, restrict editing, block printing, set expiration and enforce watermarks, then use Locklizard Safeguard to protect it.

Customer Testimonials

We needed to deliver e-book versions of our handbooks while not compromising on security and digital rights.  Safeguard PDF security is easy to use and intuitive. The implementation was painless and we now have a greener, more secure way of distributing training manuals.
Locklizard’s PDF protection is exactly as described – the features are highly effective and I would give it 5 stars. I would recommend Locklizard to others - their security is simple to use and fit for purpose.  It meets common needs of businesses who have information they want to protect.
We would be happy to recommend Locklizard to any company needing a flexible way to secure PDF files. Safeguard PDF Security has provided us with a very workable solution for sharing of information in a secure fashion.  The support has been excellent and very accommodating.
We can cut accounts for a user five minutes before his class starts and he is ready to go. Happy smiling customer, while we still have security and personalized watermarking. I have immense respect for the product and Locklizard provide great customer satisfaction and service.
We would recommend Safeguard to other companies for its security, cost and ease of use. It does what we expected it to do and more. Ease of use is a bonus and the implementation was very easy.  The product manual is excellent and Locklizard staff are very accommodating.
We sell a highly valued educational product in an open and competitive market so it was important to ensure we had effective security to protect our digital rights. We highly recommend Locklizard - a professional company with a competitive and professional PDF Security product.
We would absolutely recommend both Locklizard as a company, and Safeguard PDF Security.  It has transformed our study materials to the next level. Not only did this increase sales, but we also believe that it has increased our customers’ ability to learn, which is even more important!
We would recommend Locklizard Safeguard to other companies that need to protect PDF reports.  Customers have found the process of accessing the protected documents to be seamless. Implementation was easy and technical support has been very responsive to requests for help.
Our company would without reservation recommend Locklizard.  Their document DRM software opens up delivery of our new products in a timely fashion while knowing that the content will remain secure. The return on investment to our company has been immediately evident.
We use Safeguard to make sure that documents cannot be opened outside our local network or from a unauthorized computer in order to copy or print the documents. It is the most feature rich, affordable, & simple to use PDF security product on the market.
Safeguard PDF Security is simple to administer and meets our needs, consistently delivering secured manuals to our customers with ease. Return on investment has been elimination of many man hours, printing resources and postage – it is estimated that costs decreased by 50% or more.
We would really recommend Safeguard PDF Security to every publishing company for managing ePubs or e-books securely.  It is easy to secure PDF files and simple to distribute them to our authorized customers only. Locklizard also provides a good customer support experience.
The ROI for us is incalculable.  We have the security of knowing that our proprietary documents are secure.  This is the entire value of our company. I would most certainly recommend your PDF security product and already have.  The ease of implementation was surprising.
We can now sell our manuals without the need to print them first, saving time, money and helping safeguard the environment. We would recommend Safeguard PDF DRM – it is the perfect solution to sell and send e-documents securely whilst making sure someone cannot copy them.
We would recommend Locklizard to other companies without hesitation. Their PDF DRM products provide a manageable, cost effective way to protect intellectual investment and they are always looking for ways to improve them.  Moreover, their staff provide an excellent level of support.

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6 Free Ways to Lock PowerPoint from Editing

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Microsoft PowerPoint is one of the most useful presentation software with features designed to help users create highly effective presentations. PowerPoint is used in various fields and can hold information that is both important and sensitive. As such, locking a PowerPoint presentation can become a necessity. You may need to protect the whole presentation from editing to prevent accidental changes that may interfere with the presentation or you may just want to lock individual slide with crucial information from being edited.

Understanding how to lock PowerPoint from editing can therefore be one of the most important skills to have as you will be able to protect the document from exploitation from unauthorized users. In this article, we are going to share with you various ways to lock a PowerPoint presentation.

Part 1: Lock PowerPoint from Editing-Whole File

● 1. Mark as Final

● 2. Add Digital Signature

● 3. Save as PDF or PPSX

● 4. Set Password to Modify

● 5. Lock PowerPoint from Editing on Mac

Part 2: Lock PowerPoint from Editing-Individual Slide

Part 3: useful tips to unlock powerpoint for editing without password.

If you have to share your PowerPoint presentation to other people, it is important that you lock the PowerPoint so that they can view the presentation but unable to edit it. Read below to know the detailed information.

1. Mark as Final

This method allows you to restrict editing on the PowerPoint document, but it will not prevent someone from opening the document. Here's how to do it;

Step 1: Open the PowerPoint Presentation you would like to lock or create a new presentation.

Step 2: Once you have completed working on the presentation, click on "Info", then select "Protect Presentation" and click on "Mark as Final".

mark as final

Step 3: You should see a notification that the presentation has been marked as final. Click "OK" to close the notification. Save the changes and when you open the document again, you'll see a message at the top saying it is "Marked as Final".

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

This is not the most secure way to lock PowerPoint from editing since someone can just click on "Edit Anyway" to make it editable again.

2. Add Digital Signature

A digital signature is more commonly known as a digital ID. It can help validate your identity, and it can also be used to sign important documents including PowerPoint presentations. Below are the steps to add a digital signature to lock your PowerPoint document from editing.

Step 1: Select"File" option. From the file menu, click "Info".

Step 2: Select Protect Presentation option. From Protect Presentation menu, click "Add a Digital Signature".

add digital signature

Step 3: In the Sign dialog, please enter the purpose in the "Purpose for signing this document"box.

Step 4: Click "Sign". Now your PowerPoint Presentation is locked with a signature.

3. Save as PDF or PPSX

Since it is very hard to edit PDF or PPSX files, so you can lock a presentation by save it as a PDF or PPSX file. Here's how to do it;

Step 1: Open the presentation and then click on "File > Save As".

Step 2: Select the location to save the file and in the "Save as Type" dropdown menu, choose either PDF or PPSX.

save powerpoint as ppsx pdf

This is a great way to share the PowerPoint without having to worry that the document will be edited.

4. Set Password to Modify

If you want a more secure way to lock PowerPoint from editing, the best way to do it is to set a modify password. After setting, anyone without the password will be unable to edit the presentation. Follow these simple steps to do it;

Step 1: Open the PowerPoint presentation you would like to protect and then click on "File > Save As".

Step 2: Select a location to save the file and then click on "Tools > General Options" in the Save As dialogue box.

general options powerpoint

Step 3: Enter a password in the "Password to modify" box and then click "OK".

password to modify powerpoint

Step 4: Go back to the "Save As" dialogue box and then click "Save" to finish. The next time you open the presentation, you will be required to enter a password to modify or open read-only file.

5. Lock PowerPoint from Editing on Mac

You can lock a PowerPoint presentation by using Finder on Mac so that others can only read it, but not edit or change it.

Step 1: Open the Finder and choose the PowerPoint presentation you want to lock.

Step 2: Right-click the presentation and then click "Get Info".

mac get info

Step 3: Under "General", select the "Locked" check box.

Before you share the PowerPoint presentation, please remember that people who have write privileges can clear the locked status.

When it comes to lock PowerPoint presentation, what comes to our minds may be lock the whole PowerPoint presentation. However, we found that there are some questions like "how to lock slides in PowerPoint" or "how to lock individual slide". So, is it possible to lock only one individual slide from editing in PowerPoint?

The answer is positive. You can save the individual slide as a graphic image to lock it from being edited.

Step 1: Click "Save & Send" option from the "File" option.

Step 2: Select "Change File Type" option from the menu.

save as image

Step 3: Choose the image type you like and then click "Save as" tab. In this step, you can choose to save every slide as image or only save the current slide as a image.

So what if you receive a PowerPoint presentation that needs to be edited while it is protected in one of the ways mentioned above? Or what if you have a protected PowerPoint file whose password you have forgotten? In both these cases, your safest bet would be to use a password recovery tool that can help you recover the password or remove restrictions from the document. One of the best tools for the job is Passper for PowerPoint . Designed specifically to help you remove the password on a protected PowerPoint presentation, Passper for PowerPoint has one of the highest password recovery rates and also helps you easily remove restrictions on the program. The following are some of the features that make Passper for PowerPoint so effective:

Unlock PowerPoint Editing Passwords: Passper for PowerPoint allows you to remove editing restrictions on any presentation without affecting the data on it.

Remove All Restrictions: You can use it to remove all forms of restrictions on the file including removing read-only restrictions to allow you to edit, copy, print.

Easy and Fast to Use: The whole process of recovering the password is very easy and straightforward. You can even remove any restrictions within seconds in one single-click.

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If you are prevented from editing the PowerPoint document, Passper for PowerPoint can make it easy for you to remove these restrictions and edit the document. Here's how to do it;

Step 1: Open Passper for PowerPoint on your computer and then choose "Remove Restrictions".

add the file

Step 2: Import the encrypted file into the program and then click on "Remove". Passper will immediately begin removing all restrictions on the document.

remove restrictions

Once the process is complete, you should see a notification that the restrictions have been removed. When you open the PowerPoint presentation, you should be able to access it and edit it easily.

Passper for PowerPoint not only can help you remove all restrictions, but also can help you recover the password to open the presentation. Next time, if you forgot the password to open or received a presentation with protection, Passper for PowerPoint can help you out the delimma.

Locking a PowerPoint presentation can be a great way to prevent sensitive information from becoming public and also from preventing accidental editing. As we have seen in the course of this article, the process is very easy and can be done at different levels depending on how you want the PowerPoint presentation to be protected. Yet, it can be very easy to lose or forget the password. In this case, you would be unable to access the data on the document.

Fortunately, there is a tool like Passper for PowerPoint that can be used to recover the password without affecting the data on the presentation. Passper for PowerPoint is invaluable in the event that you have lost the opening or modifying password on your PowerPoint presentation and you need to make changes to it.

Related Articles:

  • How to Remove Password from PowerPoint (100% Working)
  • Top 9 PowerPoint Password Recovery Software That Unlock Your PowerPoint

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By Ronnie Barnes to PowerPoint

Posted on Mar 17, 2023 ( Updated: Mar 17, 2023)

Ronnie Barnes, a blogger with more than 5-year experience in writing tips about password recovery for Windows and office files.

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How do I lock a PowerPoint presentation from editing?

January 6, 2023 /

To lock a PowerPoint presentation from editing, you can use the “Mark as Final” feature. Here’s how:

  • Open the PowerPoint presentation that you want to lock.
  • Click the “File” tab in the ribbon.
  • Click “Info” in the left sidebar.
  • Click the “Protect Presentation” button, and then select “Mark as Final” from the dropdown menu.
  • Click “OK” in the pop-up window to confirm.

When a presentation is marked as final, users will be able to view it, but they will not be able to make any changes to the content. A message will be displayed at the top of the presentation warning users that the document is final and should not be edited.

Note: If you need to make changes to the presentation after it has been marked as final, you can click the “Edit Anyway” button in the warning message to edit the document. However, this will remove the “Mark as Final” protection, and the document will no longer be marked as final.

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How to Lock a Slide in PowerPoint

A powerpoint slide with a padlock icon on it

For presenters who want full control of their PowerPoint slides, understanding the limitations of slide editing control can be valuable. While PowerPoint does not offer a direct feature to lock individual slides to prevent editing, there are ways to protect your presentation from accidental changes and maintain the focus of the audience towards your key messages. In this article, we will explore alternative methods to achieve similar outcomes as slide locking in Microsoft PowerPoint.

Table of Contents

Reasons to Protect Your Slides in PowerPoint

There are numerous situations where protecting your slides can be useful. For example, if your PowerPoint presentation involves collaborating with others, protecting your slides can prevent people from making unnecessary changes that can create confusion or distract your audience from the main message. Protecting slides is also helpful when presenting confidential information that you do not want others to edit inadvertently.

Another reason to protect your slides in PowerPoint is to maintain consistency in your presentation. If you have a specific design or layout that you want to use throughout your presentation, protecting your slides can help ensure that it remains unchanged. This can be especially important if you are presenting to a large audience or if your presentation will be shared with others.

Protecting your slides can also be useful when you want to control the flow of information in your presentation. For example, if you have a slide that contains a key point or message that you want to emphasize, you can protect that slide to ensure that it is not skipped over or changed in any way. This can help you to deliver a more effective and impactful presentation.

Understanding Slide Protection in PowerPoint

While PowerPoint does not have a feature that allows you to lock individual slides, you can protect your presentation from accidental edits. When you protect a presentation, it becomes read-only, preventing others from making changes unless they have the password to unlock the read-only status. This feature works by marking the presentation as final or by password-protecting it.

It’s important to note that protecting a presentation does not prevent users from copying or viewing the contents of the slides. It only restricts editing capabilities. Additionally, if a user has access to the slide master, they can still make changes to the layout and design of the slides. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider who has access to the slide master and to use protection features in conjunction with other security measures to safeguard your PowerPoint presentations.

Benefits of Using Slide Protection in PowerPoint Presentations

When you use PowerPoint to communicate important information, it’s essential to control the flow of information. Protecting your presentation helps you maintain control over it and reduce the risk of errors, such as data entry mistakes or accidental deletion of important content. You can also use protection to ensure that your presentation looks the way you intended, without any changes that could impact its effectiveness.

Another benefit of using slide protection in PowerPoint presentations is that it allows you to collaborate with others more effectively. By protecting the entire presentation, you can prevent others from making changes to it, while still allowing them to view and comment on the slides. This can be especially useful when working on a group project or when sharing your presentation with colleagues for feedback. Additionally, slide protection can help you save time by preventing the need to constantly check and revise your presentation for errors or unwanted changes.

How to Prevent Accidental Editing of Slides in PowerPoint

When working on a presentation, you may not want to share all of its content with everyone who has access to it. You can prevent people who have access from accidentally editing slides in the following way:

  • Open your presentation in PowerPoint.
  • Click on the “File” tab at the top, then select “Info”.
  • Click on “Protect Presentation” and select “Mark as Final”.
  • A message will appear indicating that the presentation will be marked as final and saved. Click “OK”.

Marking a presentation as final makes it read-only, which helps to prevent accidental editing. However, users can still make changes to the presentation by clicking on the “Edit Anyway” button that appears when attempting to edit a marked slide. Therefore, it is recommended to also password protect your presentation to ensure that only authorized users can make changes.

Another way to prevent accidental editing of slides is to use the “Read-Only” option. This option allows users to view the presentation, but not make any changes to it. To enable this option, go to the “Save As” menu, select “Browse”, then click on “Tools” near the “Save” button and choose “General Options”. Check the box next to “Read-only recommended” and click “OK”.

Alternative Methods to Protect Slides in PowerPoint

While PowerPoint does not offer a direct feature to lock individual slides, there are alternative methods to protect your presentation. The “Mark as Final” feature is a simple way to indicate that a presentation is complete and discourage editing. You can also use password protection to prevent unauthorized access to the presentation.

Another method is to save your presentation as a PDF, which prevents editing of the content while still allowing it to be viewed. Additionally, you can use the “Slide Master” to apply consistent formatting and design across all slides, which can indirectly protect the layout from changes.

Finally, you can share your presentation as a view-only file through cloud services like OneDrive or SharePoint, giving others the ability to view but not edit the presentation.

How to Manage a Protected Presentation in PowerPoint

If you need to make changes to a presentation you have protected, you can easily remove the read-only status:

  • Open the protected presentation in PowerPoint.
  • Click on “Protect Presentation” and select “Mark as Final” again to toggle off the read-only status.
  • If the presentation is password-protected, enter the password when prompted to gain edit access.

It’s important to communicate with your team members before applying protection to a shared PowerPoint presentation. This can prevent any confusion or delays in the editing process, as well as ensure that everyone has access to the necessary information.

Troubleshooting Issues with Protected Presentations in PowerPoint

If you’re experiencing problems with a protected presentation, make sure that you have the correct password if it’s password-protected. You should also check the settings for the presentation to ensure that you have the correct permissions to make changes. If you have forgotten the password, you may need to create a new presentation or seek assistance from someone who may know the password.

Tips for Effective Slide Protection in PowerPoint Presentations

If you’re protecting your presentation, here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Document changes: Keep track of the changes you make to the presentation and maintain a record of revisions.
  • Use passwords: Consider using a password to protect your presentation for an additional layer of security.
  • Balance control with collaboration: While protecting your presentation is a great way to maintain control, it’s also important to collaborate effectively by giving others access to the information they need.

Best Practices for Managing Protected Presentations in Collaborative Settings

When working on collaborative presentations, it’s essential to use the right approach when managing protection. Here are some best practices to consider:

  • Define roles: Identify the specific roles for each collaborator and ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities.
  • Communicate effectively: Ensure that everyone involved is clear on the objectives of the presentation, process, and timelines.
  • Use shared documents: Collaborate on shared documents instead of emailing different versions of the presentation to ensure that everyone has access to the same information.

Scenarios Where Protecting Your Presentation in PowerPoint is Beneficial

Here are some scenarios where protecting your presentation in PowerPoint may be beneficial:

  • When sharing confidential information with a team or individuals
  • When presenting financial or strategic information
  • When presenting a proposal that requires significant investment or new business
  • When presenting critical information to external clients or stakeholders

If you’re a presenter or work in a group where multiple people are involved in developing a PowerPoint presentation, understanding how to protect your slides can be an asset. While PowerPoint does not offer a direct feature to lock individual slides, the methods outlined in this article can help you maintain control of your presentation and ensure that your key messages are delivered as intended.

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locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

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I cant seem to stop people editing certain slides in Powerpoint, version 2307

I can't seem to stop people from editing certain slides in PowerPoint, version 2307.

I can't do the following which I found online Open the PowerPoint presentation where you want to lock individual slides.

Click on the slide that you want to lock, or select multiple slides by holding down the "Ctrl" key while clicking on them.

From the "Review" tab at the top, click on "Restrict Editing" > "Lock All".

Enter a password and confirm in the popup to restrict editing for those slides.

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Replies (2) .

  • Microsoft Agent |

Dear Bella Waters,

I understand your requirement but to my knowledge PowerPoint application doesn’t have feature to restrict specific slides in the presentation from the editing. However, we can lock the inserted objected into the slide and protect the complete presentation with a password.

As a workaround, please refer to the suggestion shared John Korchok in this thread:  Lock individual Powerpoint Slides - Microsoft Community

I agree with you having the ability to lock specific slides in the presentation will benefit the users and I request you to add your valuable idea as a feedback in the  PowerPoint · Community (microsoft.com)  which is the best place to share our ideas and improve the Microsoft PowerPoint product.

Thanks for your patience and understanding. Have a good day!!

Best Regards,

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I can't seem to stop people from editing certain slides in PowerPoint, version 2307. I can't do the following which I found online Open the PowerPoint presentation where you want to lock individual slides. Click on the slide that you want to lock, or select multiple slides by holding down the "Ctrl" key while clicking on them. From the "Review" tab at the top, click on "Restrict Editing" > "Lock All". Enter a password and confirm in the popup to restrict editing for those slides.

Please let us know where you found those instructions. I suspect it was here:

https://zebrabi.com/advanced-guide/how-to-lock-a-slide-in-powerpoint/  

That article is utterly riddled with nonsense; all of their suggestions for locking slides simply won't work, or at best, would only discourage people who aren't familiar with PowerPoint.

Another approach would be to save the presentation as a PowerPoint Picture Presentation. This converts each slide into a picture, so for all practical purposes, it's uneditable. But if you have animations, links, morphs and such, those will not be supported.

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Easy Ways to Lock PowerPoint

Safeguarding your content's integrity and ensuring control over editing access are vital concerns. Many find themselves seeking effective solutions to protect their PowerPoint presentations. This article presents simple and practical methods to lock your PowerPoint from editing securely.

Part 1: How to Lock a PowerPoint From Editing

1. restrict access.

Step 1: Navigate to the File tab and select Info.

select info

Step 2: Choose Protect Presentation, then click on Restrict Access from the dropdown menu.

select restrict access

Restricting access is an effective way to secure your presentation, preventing unauthorized editing. This is a great choice when you want to control who can make changes to your PowerPoint file.

2. Add Digital Signature

Step 1 : Select the File option and access the file menu by clicking on Info.

choose info

Step 2: Opt for Protect Presentation and choose Add a Digital Signature from the Protect Presentation menu.

add signature

Step 3: In the Sign dialog, specify the purpose in the "Purpose for signing this document" box.

insert purpose

Step 4: Click Sign to apply a digital signature, effectively locking your PowerPoint Presentation.

click Sign

Adding a digital signature not only secures your presentation but also ensures the authenticity of the content. It's a valuable method for maintaining the integrity of your file.

3. Save as PDF or PPSX

Step 1: Open the presentation and navigate to File > Save As.

click save as

Step 2: Choose a location for saving the file and select either PDF or PPSX from the "Save as Type" dropdown menu.

select type

Saving your presentation as PDF or PPSX is a smart choice when you want to distribute your content securely. It prevents edits while retaining the document's visual integrity.

4. Mark as Final

Step 1: Open the PowerPoint Presentation you wish to secure or create a new one.

Step 2: After finishing your work on the presentation, click on Info, select Protect Presentation, and choose Mark as Final

mark as final

Step 3: A notification will confirm that the presentation is marked as final. Click OK to close the notification. Save your changes, and upon reopening the document, you'll see a message at the top indicating it's "Marked as Final."

click OK

Marking a presentation as final is a clear signal that editing is restricted. It's useful for sharing a read-only version of your work.

5. Set a Password

Step 1 : Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to protect and navigate to File > Save As.

 select save as

Step 2: Choose a location for saving the file and click on Tools > General Options within the Save As dialog box.

 tool

Step 3: In the "Password to modify" box, enter a password, and then click OK.

enter password

Step 4: Return to the Save As dialog box and click Save to complete the process. The next time you open the presentation, you'll be prompted to enter a password for modification or access in read-only mode.

Setting a password provides a strong layer of security, ensuring that only those with the password can make changes. It's a dependable method for keeping your content safe from unwanted edits.

Part 2: Unlock PowerPoint for Editing Without Password

Step 1: Open the PowerPoint Presentation with a password.

Step 2: Click on File > Info > Protect Presentation, and select "Encrypt with password."

select encrypt password

Step 3 : Erase the password from the text box, and click on OK. Save this PPT file, and then the next time you can open the PowerPoint file without a password.

erase the password

Part 3: Best Alternative — WPS Office

WPS Office

WPS Office is a versatile and comprehensive office suite that offers an excellent alternative for creating, editing, and securing your PowerPoint presentations. It excels in various aspects, making it a top choice for users seeking content protection, collaboration control, enhanced security, and educational use.

Content Protection: Robust tools for securing your documents, including password protection, encryption, and access control.

Collaboration Control: Real-time collaboration features and user access management for effective teamwork.

Security: Built-in document encryption and advanced security options to shield your work from potential risks.

Educational Use: A valuable tool for educators and students, simplifying the creation of educational presentations and documents.

WPS Office is a standout alternative, offering a wide range of features that cater to professionals, educators, and anyone looking to enhance content protection and collaboration in their presentations. It's a comprehensive solution for all your office suite needs.

Download Website: https://www.wps.com/

How to protect a presentation in WPS Office

Step 1: Open Your PowerPoint File

Begin by opening the PowerPoint file you want to lock using WPS Office.

Step 2: Access File Options

In the top-left corner of the WPS Office interface, click on the "Menu" tab.

Step 3: Choose "Option"

From the options on the left-hand menu, select "Option."

 select option

Step 4: Select "Securite"

In the "Option" section, click on "Security." A dropdown menu will appear.

 select security

Step 5: Set a Password

Enter the desired password in the "Password" box.

Step 6: Confirm the Password

Re-enter the password to confirm it.

enter password

Step 7: Save Your File

After setting the password and confirming it, click "OK" to apply the encryption.

click OK

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to edit a protected powerpoint presentation.

You can edit a protected PowerPoint presentation by copying and pasting content to another presentation, saving or printing it to PDF, and then converting it back to PPTX format. Alternatively, you can remove the password by adding ".zip" to its filename, editing its presentation.xml file, and simply deleting the “modifyVerifier” code. Once saved back in PPTX format, the restrictions are gone.

What causes the "Your account doesn't allow editing on a Mac" message?

The "Your account doesn't allow editing on a Mac" message appears when Microsoft doesn't recognize your Office 365 license. It can also occur due to corrupt files in your Mac's Library folder.

How to show or hide hidden files or folder on Mac OS X?

You can show or hide hidden files or folders on Mac OS X using one of the following methods:

Shortcut keys "CMD + Shift + G"

Terminal provided by Mac OS X

Third-party apps designed for this purpose.

Securing your PowerPoint presentations is essential in today's digital world. In this guide, we've explored various methods to lock your PowerPoint, from adding digital signatures to setting passwords and marking them as final. These techniques ensure that your content remains protected, and your control over it is maintained.

Moreover, our recommended solution, WPS Office , stands out as an excellent alternative for PowerPoint users. With its robust features and user-friendly interface, content protection, collaboration control, robust security features, and educational utility. It's a comprehensive solution that caters to a wide range of users, from professionals to educators and students.

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locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

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5 Free Alternatives To Microsoft PowerPoint

Team sharing a laptop

Microsoft PowerPoint has always been the default choice for creating professional meeting briefs or fun little project demonstrations in schools. Its inclusion as a free service for students or working professionals makes it a no-brainer to use. However, for the general public, it can get quite expensive to pay for a subscription just to be able to create simple presentation slides. Although you can subscribe to Microsoft's Office Suite and get more bang for your buck, the pricing still doesn't hit the affordable range for most. 

Fortunately, completion has been growing, and a sea of strong contenders offer similar services to PowerPoint. After considering feature sets, here are five of the best free alternatives to Microsoft PowerPoint. At the end of the article, you can find a detailed explanation of why we've chosen the services, alongside useful comparisons that may help you make your decision easier.

When it comes to productivity apps, Zoho makes some of the better ones in the market. Zoho Sheet, for example, is one of the best Microsoft Excel alternatives out there  —  owing to its extensive product catalog, there is a great way to view and edit presentations. The aptly named Zoho Show lets you design and demonstrate professional-looking slides, all without having to download the program.

Zoho takes a minimal approach to most of its services, and its PowerPoint application is no different. You'll find that most menus are contextually aware of what tasks you're currently performing, which helps keep unnecessary tools out of the way and bring the important ones in focus. There is also a huge library of customizable templates you can choose from, making it easier to kickstart your presentation work. 

Zoho Show is completely free to use for individuals and offers unlimited cloud storage. No features are locked behind a paywall, and rest assured, you can fully rely on this online presentation-making tool for all your needs, be it for school or work. 

Canva is a service that can easily climb up to becoming everyone's favorite once they start using it. While most applaud it for its graphic designing prowess, there are many other things Canva can do that you probably aren't aware of . Among them is the ability to craft beautiful slides for your presentations and projects. 

By creating a free account, you can access thousands of templates on Canva. You can filter these by use case—maybe you need one for a professional business briefing or a casual one explaining why your pet dog is the best canine. There is a whole section of ready-to-use templates dedicated to mobile-friendly viewing as well, which is something you don't usually find to be as accessible with other tools. 

Like most presentation apps, Canva lets you collaborate with your team members and work across devices seamlessly. The Canva app for mobile also lets you control your slides remotely during your presentation. Some menus also feature AI-featured tools to add one-click enhancements to your slides — unfortunately, these are locked behind premium subscription tiers. However, for the cent percent of the population, Canva can be used without spending a dime to meet a plethora of creative needs. 

Apple takes great pride in developing in-house solutions to meet every user requirement. While most of its products dominate the competition in popularity, the same cannot be said for Keynote , the company's version of Microsoft PowerPoint. The program was first released in 2003 with macOS Big Sur and has largely remained one of those icons you glance over and forget about. 

However, recent versions of Keynote have made it a compelling alternative to PowerPoint. Not only is it pre-installed on every Apple device, including your iPhone, but it also works best with the iPad touchscreen. Keynote has a largely clean and professional approach to the built-in templates, but nothing is stopping you from going creative. Animations are one of Keynote's strongest suits, allowing you to create near cinematic-looking presentations with just a few clicks. 

While you can still use Apple Keynote through iCloud on Windows devices, this alternative is clearly meant for people surrounded by the walled garden of Apple technology. It makes use of features like AirDrop, Live Photos, and VoiceOver  — all of which are technologies available across Apple devices. Using Apple Keynote is completely free, and the app has easy exporting tools that make working with Microsoft PowerPoint less of a hassle.

WPS Presentation

WPS Office makes some of the best solutions for creating and editing documents on smartphones , but their service offerings extend to Windows, macOS, and even Linux. WPS Presentation is perhaps the closest you'll get to Microsoft PowerPoint in terms of the user interface and how most tools are bundled in familiar locations.

This PowerPoint app offers real-time collaboration where you can invite your team members and work on the same document remotely. Like most collaboration tools, users can leave comments to suggest changes or add information for other people on the team.

WPS Presentation is not the only free product; you can utilize every app in the WPS Office suite. Unlike most competitors, you don't need to download or use a separate mini-app to make presentations. WPS Office has a document editor, PowerPoint creator, spreadsheet manager, and other tools all within its umbrella. Premium plans for this service exist, but they mostly cater to unlocking features for editing PDFs. 

Google Slides

As a netizen, you most likely already have a Google account. Not only is it required to make any meaningful use of your Android phone, but popular services that we take for granted, like Gmail and Drive, all fall under Google's umbrella. One such free service that the tech giant has at its disposal is Google Slides . While the barebones UI might seem lackluster at first, Slides has nearly the same level of functionality as Microsoft PowerPoint and can even be supercharged by add-ons. 

All of Google's workspace apps, such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides, provide an intuitive way to work in a team. You can add comments, use annotations, and share the presentation with limited access to others. You can use one of the many predesigned Google Slides templates for simple presentations , or browse for templates that cater to specific needs. Being part of a bigger service catalog has its obvious advantages, such as seamless integration with Google Meet, Gmail, and other products from Google that you already use. 

We recommend Google Slides to anyone who needs to create and edit PowerPoint presentations on the go and can't be bothered with working in a complicated environment. The service is also available as an app for Android and iOS, and you can export your presentations in a wide range of formats, including PPT, PDF, or PNG for individual slides. 

To pay or not to pay?

You'll notice that all the services we've mentioned on this list are free to use. In fact, you can use Office 365 apps online for free   — including PowerPoint, which makes purchasing a standalone subscription to the Microsoft PowerPoint app quite redundant. However, nearly every free alternative here short of Keynote also offers premium plans, but should you consider buying one?

For the vast majority of people who are looking for a robust software to create, edit, and share presentations with  —  these free options deliver exceptionally well in every aspect. Some apps like Google Slides and Apple Keynote let you work in smaller teams with the free tier as well. Apps like WPS Office and Canva tend to lock new and exciting features like AI tools behind a paywall, and while these are nice to have, you definitely can do without them. 

If you're looking for a presentation tool for a company with multiple people, you can scale up using any of the alternatives mentioned on this list. Both Google Workspace and Zoho offer reliable and enterprise-level plans you can upgrade to. For everyone else  — enjoy creating and demonstrating your PowerPoint presentations for free.

IMAGES

  1. How to Lock a PowerPoint Presentation from Editing (PowerPoint Tips)

    locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  2. Tutorial: Lock PowerPoint 2016 Presentation from Opening or Editing

    locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  3. How To Lock A PowerPoint Presentation From Being Edited

    locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  4. How to Lock PowerPoint 2016 Presentation from Opening/Editing

    locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

  5. Tutorial: Lock PowerPoint 2016 Presentation from Opening or Editing

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  6. How to lock Powerpoint Presentation From Editing

    locking a powerpoint presentation from editing

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COMMENTS

  1. Restrict changes to PowerPoint presentations

    Select File > Info. Select Protect Presentation, point to Restrict Access, and then select Restricted Access. In the Permission dialog box, select Restrict permission to this presentation, and then select More Options. Under Additional permissions for users, select the This presentation expires on check box, and then enter a date.

  2. 7 Ways to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing!

    Step-1: Open the "Encrypt Password" option. The first step is to click on the " File " tab. Then, from the backend view, click on the " Info " option. Next, click on the " Protect Presentation " option, and from the dropdown, select the " Encrypt with Password " option.

  3. How to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing and Modifying

    Step 1: Click the File tab to go to Backstage view. Step 2: From the Info pane, click the Protect Presentation command. Step 3: In the drop-down menu, choose the option that best suits your needs. select Mark as Final. Step 4: A dialog box will appear prompting you to save, click OK.

  4. Can I Stop People From Editing My PowerPoint Presentation?

    To password protect your presentation, open PowerPoint, click the "File" tab, click "Info" in the left-hand pane, and then click the "Protect Presentation" option. Next, click "Encrypt with Password" from the menu that appears. The Encrypt Document window will appear. Enter your password in the Password text box and then click "OK."

  5. How to Lock a PowerPoint from Editing?

    Securing your PowerPoint presentation is essential, especially when sharing sensitive information. By restricting access and locking editing capabilities, you can control who can view and modify your content. In this step-by-step guide, we'll walk you through the process of locking your PowerPoint presentation, ensuring your data remains secure.

  6. How to password protect your PowerPoint presentations

    Follow these steps to password protect your presentation: Open your PowerPoint presentation and select File, then Info. Select Protect Presentation. Here, you have multiple options on who can access, view, or edit your presentation. Always Open Read-Only prevents viewers from accidentally making changes. Restrict Access allows you to select who ...

  7. How to Lock a PowerPoint Presentation from Editing ...

    Learn how to Lock a PowerPoint Presentation from editing. Protect your presentation when sharing by using a password.Share your PowerPoint files without any ...

  8. Password protection for presentations in PowerPoint

    Select Protect Presentation > Encrypt with Password. In the Password box, enter the password you'd like to use. Select OK. PowerPoint prompts you to confirm the password by entering it once more. Save the file to ensure the password takes effect. Password protection isn't supported in PowerPoint for ODP (Open Document Presentation) files.

  9. How to Lock Slide From Editing in PowerPoint

    Are you worried about someone altering your presentation? With this video, you'll learn how to easily lock slides and ensure your PowerPoint presentation is ...

  10. How to Lock a PowerPoint Presentation (+Video)

    Click on the Protect Presentation menu. Then, choose Encrypt with Password. From the list of options, choose Encrypt with Password. The Encrypt Document menu will pop up. Here, you can type in a strong password. Key it in, re-enter the password, then click OK. Give your PowerPoint a strong password, then click OK. 3.

  11. How to protect / lock a PowerPoint presentation?

    To protect your document, go to the file tab in PowerPoint, select Info, then click 'Protect Presentation'. In the drop-down menu, you will find 4 or 5 options for protecting presentations in PowerPoint (options available depend on which version of PowerPoint you are running): 'Always Open Read-Only', 'Encrypt with Password ...

  12. How to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing

    Method 1. Mark the PowerPoint Presentation as a Final Version. Method 2. Set Restrict Access to Protect PowerPoint from Editing. Method 3. Set "Password to Modify" to Lock A PowerPoint So It Cannot Be Edited. Method 4. Save the PowerPoint Presentation With a PPSX Format.

  13. Lock up your PowerPoint presentation

    How to lock your PowerPoint presentation from editing - the whole thing or just part of it. This is to complete our look at the locking/read only options in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and now PowerPoint. Read only x 2. There's two ways to make a PowerPoint presentation 'Read only' - meaning that it can't be edited, only viewed ...

  14. Protect PowerPoint from being copied, lock editing, restrict access

    With the document open, press "File" in your ribbon, then "Info". Click on the "Protect Document" button and choose "Encrypt with Password" from the list. Enter a strong, unique password and press "OK". Enter the password a second time to confirm it. Press "OK". PowerPoint has now encrypted your document.

  15. 6 Free Ways to Lock PowerPoint from Editing

    Below are the steps to add a digital signature to lock your PowerPoint document from editing. Step 1: Select"File" option. From the file menu, click "Info". Step 2: Select Protect Presentation option. From Protect Presentation menu, click "Add a Digital Signature". Step 3: In the Sign dialog, please enter the purpose in the "Purpose for signing ...

  16. How do I lock a PowerPoint presentation from editing?

    To lock a PowerPoint presentation from editing, you can use the "Mark as Final" feature. Here's how: Open the PowerPoint presentation that you want to lock. Click the "File" tab in the ribbon. Click "Info" in the left sidebar. Click the "Protect Presentation" button, and then select "Mark as Final" from the dropdown menu.

  17. How to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing

    There are multiple ways to attach great protection to PowerPoint 2003/2007/2010/2013/2016/2019presentation. You can use one or more to restrict PowerPoint c...

  18. How To Lock a PowerPoint Presentation (Plus Benefits and FAQs)

    Here's how to lock a PowerPoint presentation: Open your file. Click the "File" tab in the top ribbon. Select "Save As" in the left panel. Click the folder where you want to save your presentation. Type the name of the file in the "File name" field. Select the "Tools" drop-down menu in the bottom-right corner of the dialog box.

  19. How to Lock a Slide in PowerPoint

    Click on the "File" tab at the top, then select "Info". Click on "Protect Presentation" and select "Mark as Final". A message will appear indicating that the presentation will be marked as final and saved. Click "OK". Marking a presentation as final makes it read-only, which helps to prevent accidental editing.

  20. I cant seem to stop people editing certain slides in Powerpoint

    Open the PowerPoint presentation where you want to lock individual slides. Click on the slide that you want to lock, or select multiple slides by holding down the "Ctrl" key while clicking on them. From the "Review" tab at the top, click on "Restrict Editing" > "Lock All". Enter a password and confirm in the popup to restrict editing for those ...

  21. Easy Ways to Lock PowerPoint

    Part 2: Unlock PowerPoint for Editing Without Password. Step 1: Open the PowerPoint Presentation with a password. Step 2: Click on File > Info > Protect Presentation, and select "Encrypt with password." select encrypt password. Step 3: Erase the password from the text box, and click on OK.Save this PPT file, and then the next time you can open the PowerPoint file without a password.

  22. 4 Options to Protect a PowerPoint Presentation from Editing

    Step-1: Access File > Save as on the top left corner. Step-2: In the Save as interface, click Save as type button and select the JPEG or PNG option. You can also modify the file name. Step-3: Click the Save button and you will get a prompt to export every slide in the presentation or only the current slide.

  23. 5 Free Alternatives To Microsoft PowerPoint

    Fortunately, completion has been growing, and a sea of strong contenders offer similar services to PowerPoint. After considering feature sets, here are five of the best free alternatives to ...

  24. How to Lock a PowerPoint Presentation from Editing (New 2020 ...

    This video covers the following topics:1. Learn how to Lock a PowerPoint Presentation from editing. 2. Protect your presentation when sharing by using a pass...