how to lock a powerpoint presentation

Restrict changes to PowerPoint presentations

If you don't want content reviewers to accidentally change your PowerPoint presentation, you can use formatting and editing restrictions.

Note:  To further restrict reviewers from making changes to your document or spreadsheet, you can make the file read-only or you can password protect it. 

Restrict permission to content in files

Select File > Info .

After you assign permission levels, select OK . The Message Bar appears, indicating that the presentation is rights-managed. If you must make any access permission changes to the presentation, select Change Permission . If a presentation with restricted permission is forwarded to an unauthorized person, a message appears with the author's e-mail or website address so the individual can request permission. If the author doesn't include an email address, unauthorized users get an error message.

Set an expiration date for a file

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 .

Select OK twice.

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7 Ways to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing!

By: Author Shrot Katewa

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 / lock a PowerPoint presentation?

• September 28, 2020

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 .

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

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.

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 Password Protect PowerPoint (Step-by-Step)

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Shortcuts & Hacks
• February 27, 2019

Are you ready to learn how to password protect PowerPoint presentations so that others cannot edit or copy and paste your content?

Before you get started though, please remember this. If you forget the password you created in the steps below, you will not be able to recover your password, or unlock your presentation.

Now before password protect your presentation, it’s important to first understand the difference between the two types of Passwords you can use to protect your PowerPoint presentations.

Two Types of PowerPoint Passwords

PowerPoint has two different styles or types of passwords you can add to your presentation which determine what someone can and can’t do with your presentation.

While the difference between the two pop-up windows as you can see in the picture below appears small, the difference is big.

1. Password to Open

Adding a password to open forces you (or whoever opens your presentation) to input a password to be able to not only see but edit the content of your presentation.

If they do not know the correct (case-sensitive) password, they cannot open, review or modify your presentation in any way. Just keep in mind that there is NO WAY to recover a forgotten password.

So if you password protect your presentation AND forget your password, you too will not be able to open or edit your presentation.

2. Password to Modify

Adding a password to Modify gives your clients and colleagues two different ways to access your presentation.

• They can enter the correct password and get full editing rights to your document (just like a normal presentation).
• They can choose to open your file in a Read-Only format, allowing them to view (but not edit) your PowerPoint presentation.

To give someone the Read-Only option pictured below to access your presentation, you must use the password to Modify option.

In the Read-Only version of your presentation, people can still print, save your file as a PDF and run your presentation in the Slideshow modes. To see all the slideshow shortcuts and techniques, check out our ultimate slideshow guide here.

On top of that, all of your PowerPoint animations, effects, hyperlinks, etc. will still work in the Read-Only version of your document. But other than reviewing your document, people will NOT be able to edit, modify or copy and paste any of your content.

How to add a password to PowerPoint

To password protect your PowerPoint presentation using either the Password to Open or Password to Modify options, follow the steps below.

1. Open the PowerPoint presentation you want to password protect

The only way to add a password to a specific presentation is from within the presentation itself. So as a first step, find and open the presentation that you want to password-protect.

As a best practice, I recommend creating a non-password-protected copy of your presentation and saving it on your computer. That way if you forget your password, you can always open the non-password-protected version on your computer.

To create a copy of your presentation, simply Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl + V to paste it inside a File Explorer window.

2. Open the Save As dialog box

The FASTEST way to access the Save As dialog box from within PowerPoint is using your keyboard shortcuts. You can use either of the two keyboard shortcuts (whichever is easier for you to remember):

• F12 for Save As
• Ctrl + Shift + S for Save As

If you hit F12 and nothing happens, that means that your function keys are reversed. In this case, try adding the Function key to the sequence:  Fn + F12 .

3. Open the Tools dropdown

Inside the Save As dialog box, open the Tools dropdown (it is right next to the Save button as pictured above).

Note : The Save As dialog box is also the trick to converting PowerPoint to PDF .

4. Select General Options

Inside the Tools dropdown, select General Options . This is where you can add/remove passwords to your PowerPoint presentations.

5. Enter your password (Open or Modify)

Inside the General Options dialog box, decide which type of password to add to your presentation (see my explanation of both types at the top of this page).

Your two options are:

• Password to Open
• Password to Modify

To get started, simply click into the input box for the type of password you want to protect PowerPoint with (Open or Modify) and type your password.

Remember too that passwords are case-sensitive, so be careful you don’t have the Caps Lock key on when you enter your password. Thankfully, you get the chance to confirm your password in the next step.

6. Confirm your Password

This is your chance to confirm you have typed the correct password for your presentation. As there is no way to view the password you have typed, I recommend taking care here to make sure you type what you think you typed.

If you make a mistake and the two passwords are not the same, you get the following error notification.

Clicking OK , you can either re-type your password correctly or select Cancel to exit out of the Confirm Password dialog box.

PowerPoint will not allow you to add a password to your presentation unless you can first confirm your password.

7. Rename your Presentation (Recommended)

While renaming your password-protected presentation is optional, to me this is a critical best practice.

I personally like to add “- with Password” or “PW” or “Password to Open” to identify the document as having a password. This also helps you distinguish it from your original (non-password protected) document that you hopefully saved in step #1 above.

In this step, you can also choose where to save your password-protected document on your computer by navigating between your folders.

8. Save and Close your document

Once you have selected a location on your computer to save your password-protected presentation, click Save and then close out of your document to trigger the password.

As long as you have your document open, you will not need to enter the password to open it (as it is already open). Closing the document triggers the password gate to close, requiring a password to open it again.

9. Double-check your password works properly

Before you send off your document as final, double-check that your password properly works. This is especially important if you created a non-password-protected version of your presentation, to make sure you are working with the correct file.

Find your protected presentation on your computer and double-click it to open it up. If the document immediately opens without asking you to enter a password, it means that:

• You selected the non-password-protected version of your document
• You never closed your PowerPoint presentation after adding your password (see step #8 above)
• You made a mistake somewhere along the way and should start over

Either way, double-checking this now will save you from accidentally sending your client the wrong file.

Once your password is properly added to your presentation, opening the document forces you to enter a password to continue. Once you see the dialog box, try entering your password to make sure you have the right one.

How to remove a password from PowerPoint

Tired of always having to enter in a password to edit your presentation? Well, let’s look at how to remove a password from your presentation.

For example, you added a password to your presentation to work with a specific client, and now that project is over. So you want to remove the password so you and your team can access it without always having to enter a password.

Removing a password is very similar to adding a password. Simply follow these steps.

1. Find and open the password-protected presentation

The only way to remove a password from PowerPoint is from within the password-protected presentation.

Navigate to the file on your computer, and double-click it to open it. If a dialog box does not pop open asking you for a password to continue, it means one of two things:

• You have selected the wrong presentation
• Your presentation is not password-protected

Notice how easy it is to see which presentation is password-protected in the picture above? That is why I recommend adding a qualifier in the name of any PowerPoint presentation you password protect.

2. Enter the correct password and click OK

Regardless of whether you have a Password to Open or a Password to Modify, enter the correct password and click OK to get full editing rights to your document.

You cannot remove a password in the Read-Only version of PowerPoint that you can access with the Password to Modify .

If you do not know the password to the presentation, you cannot remove the password from the document (sorry). This is why I recommend saving a non-password-protected version of your file first.

3. Open the Save As dialog box

Once you have successfully opened the password-protected presentation, now you can remove the password. To get started, hit F12 or Ctrl + Shift + S to open the Save As dialog box.

4. Open the Tools dropdown

Inside the Save As dialog box, click to open the Tools dropdown.

5. Select General Options

Inside the Tools dropdown, select General Options to remove the password from your presentation.

6. Select and delete the password

Depending on what type of password was added to your presentation, you should see a sequence of circles or asterisks marks in either the Password to Open or Password to Modify option as pictured below.

Simply select the password in the dialog box and hit either Delete or Backspace on your keyboard.

Two things you cannot do in this dialog box are:

• You cannot view the password. So if you open a password-protected presentation on your computer, your colleague cannot sneak a peek at the password when you are not looking.
• You cannot password-protect your presentation with both types of passwords. You will either have a Password to open or a Password to modify , never both (it is impossible).

7. Click OK and then Save

After deleting the password, click OK and then click Save .

This saves your presentation without the password, allowing you to open the file without having to use a password in the future.  If you like, you can also choose to rename your file now that it is no longer password-protected.

8. Double-check the password is removed

Before you forget, double-check that the password has been removed from your presentation.

Close your PowerPoint presentation (Ctrl + W on your keyboard) and then reopen. If you are again asked to enter a password to open or modify the presentation then something went wrong along the way.

If this happens to you, don’t sweat it. It is better to figure this out now (and fix the problem) rather than having your client or colleague email you about the issue.

PowerPoint Password Tips

I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT forget your password.

A number of people have asked whether it is possible to recover a password they have forgotten. Unfortunately, there is no way to retrieve a forgotten password like this that I know of. 

This is why I recommend saving a copy of your original presentation (a non-password protected version) before adding a password to it. That way if you forget your password, you can always go back to the original (non-password protected) document, without having to recreate the wheel.

A few additional PowerPoint password tips are:

Tip #1. Passwords are case sensitive, so watch out for upper case letters. 

That means that locking PowerPoint with the uppercase password ‘OPEN SESAME’ is treated differently than the lowercase password ‘open sesame.’

Tip #2. Make your passwords easy to remember

One way to make your passwords easy to remember is to either reference the client’s name in the password or just used the first four letters of the document.

An example using the client’s name could be m icrosoft open (I recommend using lower-case) if your client is Microsoft

An example using the first four letters for a file called “Quarterly Report” would be quar open (again making it all lower case so it is easier to remember).

Tip #3. Don’t use the same password for all of your presentations

Just like you shouldn’t use the same password for all your personal things, you don’t want to use the same password to open all of your presentations. That is because if someone figures that out, they will be able to open all of your password-protected presentations.

Tip #4. Develop a naming convention that makes sense for you

For help developing a naming convention for your passwords so they are always easy to remember, check out the following tips by GrowMap here .

Now you know how to both add and remove passwords to your PowerPoint presentations.

Two important things to remember about password protecting your presentations are:

#1. Most people are not familiar with having to add a password to open a presentation. So, if your password-protect your presentation, warn your clients and colleagues in advance.

#2. There is no way to recover your password if you forget it. So, use an easy to remember password, write it down and better yet, save a non-password-protected version of your presentation that you can always refer to it if necessary.

If you enjoyed this article and want to learn more about our PowerPoint training products and services, visit us here .

What’s Next?

Related articles, about the author.

This Post Has 2 Comments

Thanks for the article! So there is no way to recover the password? I had this problem once and tried googling for it, there are a lot of sites that claim it’s possible. Fortunately it was just an edit password and a simple ppt, so ended up making a new presentation with the same text and pictures.

To my knowledge, there is no way to recover a password. That is why I recommend saving a copy of your presentation without a password before adding one. Sorry I don’t have a better answer for you.

Comments are closed.

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How to Protect PowerPoint Presentations – Methods that Really Work

Table of Contents

In the Publish Presentation window, select the My Computer tab and head over to the Protection section . 

In the opened window, you can configure the security settings you need. 

1. Copyright your PowerPoint slides by adding a watermark

With iSpring Suite, you can watermark your presentation with, for example, your corporate logo or copyright notice like © 2020 John Smith . It’s possible to set the watermark’s transparency and position on the slides. You can also specify a webpage that will open when your viewers click on the watermark. It could be anything from terms of use to your profile page on a social network site.

2. Set a password

This option is pretty straightforward. You create a password and no one can view your presentation without entering it first.

3.  Restrict time

You can set a special time period when your audience will be able to view your presentation. For example, you can set up a 2-week interval when your slides will be available.

When you’re finished with the settings, save any changes and publish the slides. By default, the output presentation is saved on your PC. You can then transfer it to a pen drive or CD and distribute it to your learners or colleagues.

Method #2. Make Your Presentation Read-Only

This method won’t prevent your copyrighted PPT slides from being copied and shared, but it will protect them from being modified. The upside is that to lock a presentation from editing you don’t need any third-party services – you can do this right in PowerPoint by using the Mark as Final option. When a presentation is marked as final, other users can read and view it, but can’t make any alterations. 

To lock the slides, click the File tab in PowerPoint and choose the Protect Presentation command in the Info pane. In the drop-down menu, select Mark as Final . That will set your presentation in read-only mode.

Method #3. Restrict Permission to Selected Individuals

You can set the restriction to your readers so they can read the presentation but won’t be able to change, print, or copy the content. 

As with the previous method, you can do this right in PowerPoint. Simply go to File → Info → Protect Presentation → Restrict Access . 

However, to grant people access, you need to connect to the Rights Management Service (RMS). It is integrated into Microsoft Office and is available for faculty and staff. Ask your IT department to help you to enable RMS for your account.

Note: RMS allows employees to share restricted documents only within their company or campus. It won’t be possible to share your presentation with individuals that are not your colleagues or faculty members.

We hope this article gave you insights on ways that you can protect your PowerPoint presentations. If you know of any alternative ways to safeguard the slides, please share your ideas in the comment section. 

Useful Resources on PowerPoint

Are you a PowerPoint lover? If so, here are some other helpful articles for you:

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• How to Protect PowerPoint Presentation from Editing and Modifying

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 .

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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 Protect PowerPoint Presentation? (4 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR PRESENTATION SAFE)

PowerPoint presentations are a valuable tool for business professionals and academics alike, providing a platform for both creativity and knowledge sharing.

However, with the ever-growing threat of cyber-attacks and data breaches, it is important to take measures to ensure these presentations are kept safe and secure.

In this article, we will explore how to protect PowerPoint presentations, outlining the benefits and risks associated with this task, as well as provide 4 tips to help you keep your presentation safe.

Table of Contents

Short Answer

One way to protect a PowerPoint presentation is to set a password.

This will ensure that only people with the password can open, edit, or print the presentation.

Additionally, it can be beneficial to save the presentation in a secure, encrypted format to ensure that even if someone were to gain access to the file, they wouldn’t be able to read the contents.

Lastly, it is important to make regular backups of the presentation so that there is a copy available if something goes wrong.

What is PowerPoint?

PowerPoint is a powerful presentation software developed by Microsoft and part of the Microsoft Office suite.

It is a versatile program that allows users to create and share engaging multimedia presentations with ease.

With PowerPoint, you can add slides, images, audio, video, animations, and more to create a professional and visually appealing presentation.

The software also offers a wide range of features, such as the ability to collaborate in real-time with others and embed interactive polls, quizzes, and surveys into your slides.

PowerPoint is an incredibly useful tool for business professionals, educators, and students alike, allowing them to communicate their ideas and messages in an engaging and effective way.

Benefits of Protecting PowerPoint Presentations

Protecting PowerPoint presentations is an important step in ensuring that your presentation is secure and remains accessible. There are numerous benefits to protecting your presentations, such as:

1. Increased Security: Password-protecting your presentation ensures that only those with the correct password can access it, thus preventing unauthorized access or sharing of your presentation. Additionally, backing up your presentation to a secure cloud storage system such as Dropbox or Google Drive makes sure that your presentation is safe from accidental deletion or malicious attacks.

2. Data Protection: By password-protecting your presentation, you can also protect the data contained within the presentation from being accessed or stolen. This is especially important if you are presenting confidential information, such as financial data, customer information, or other sensitive data.

3. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your presentation is secure and protected can provide peace of mind, allowing you to focus on the presentation itself rather than worrying about its security.

4. Increased Flexibility: Saving your presentation to a secure cloud storage system, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, gives you the flexibility to access your presentation from any device, at any time. This can be especially useful if you need to make changes to your presentation while you are away from your computer.

By taking the necessary steps to protect your PowerPoint presentations, you can ensure that your presentation is secure and remains accessible.

This can be invaluable if you are presenting confidential information or need to make changes to your presentation while you are away from your computer.

Password Protecting Your Presentation

PowerPoint presentations are an important part of any business, academic, or creative endeavor.

Whether youre delivering a keynote address, showing off your latest project, or simply demonstrating a concept to your colleagues, you want to ensure that your presentation is as secure as possible.

To protect your presentation, one of the most important steps you can take is to password-protect it.

This will ensure that only those with the correct password can access your presentation.

When password-protecting your presentation, youll want to make sure that you choose a strong and secure password.

This means that you should avoid words and phrases that are easily guessed, as well as using common combinations of letters and numbers.

Instead, try to come up with a longer, more complex password that is difficult to guess.

You can also use a password manager to help you create and store your passwords securely.

Once youve chosen your password, youll want to save your presentation with the password-protected option enabled.

This will ensure that anyone who tries to open the presentation will need to enter the correct password in order to gain access.

You should also be sure to store the password in a secure location, such as a password manager or a safe place in your office.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your presentation is secure and protected.

Password-protecting your presentation is an important step in keeping your information secure and private.

Backing Up Your Presentation

Backing up your presentation is one of the most important steps to protecting it.

It ensures that you will always have a copy of your presentation in case something happens to the original file.

There are a few different ways to back up your presentation.

The simplest way is to manually save a copy of the presentation to a secure drive or cloud storage system.

This way, you can easily access the file if needed.

Another option is to use an automated backup system, which will save a copy of your presentation at regular intervals.

Many software programs and online storage services offer automated backups, so you dont have to worry about manually saving your presentation.

Finally, you can also use a cloud-based storage system, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, to store your presentation in a secure and private location.

No matter which method you choose, its important to make sure that you regularly back up your presentation.

This way, you can be sure that you always have a copy of your presentation, even if the original file is lost or corrupted.

Utilizing Secure Cloud Storage for Your Presentation

One of the best ways to protect a PowerPoint presentation is to store it in a secure cloud storage system.

Cloud storage allows you to store your presentation in a remote server, meaning that no matter what happens to your computer, you still have access to your presentation.

Popular cloud storage services include Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

When storing your presentation in a cloud storage system, be sure to password-protect it.

This will ensure that only those with the correct password can access the presentation.

Additionally, you can also opt for two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security.

Another important step to take when using cloud storage is to make sure that you are using an up-to-date and secure service.

Old cloud storage systems may be vulnerable to cyber-attacks, so it is important to make sure that you have the most secure version available.

Additionally, you should also check the privacy settings of the cloud storage service to make sure that only those with the correct credentials can access your presentation.

Finally, it is also important to make sure that you have a backup of your presentation stored in a secure location.

By having a backup, you can ensure that your presentation is safe in the event of a system crash or accidental deletion.

You can store the backup in a separate cloud storage system or on an external hard drive.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your PowerPoint presentation is secure and protected.

Utilizing a secure cloud storage system and regularly backing up your presentation will help to keep your presentation safe from malicious attacks and accidental deletion.

What to Do if Your Presentation is Compromised

If your presentation is ever compromised, the best thing you can do is act quickly and decisively.

First, make sure to change your password immediately and make sure it is strong and unique.

Additionally, you should also back up your presentation on a secure cloud storage system, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, to ensure that you have a copy of the presentation in case anything happens.

If the presentation was shared with others, make sure to contact them and inform them of the situation, and ask them to delete the compromised version of the presentation.

Finally, you should also install antivirus and anti-malware software on your computer to prevent any unwanted intrusions in the future.

By taking these steps, you can ensure that your presentation is secure and protected.

Tips for Preventing a Compromised Presentation

PowerPoint presentations are a great way to convey information in an engaging and informative manner, but if the presentation is not properly secured, it can be vulnerable to theft or manipulation.

To protect your presentation, there are several steps that you can take.

First, you should password-protect your presentation.

This will ensure that only those with the correct password can access the presentation and make changes to it.

This is especially important if your presentation contains sensitive information.

Additionally, you should also back up your presentation so that if something happens to your original file, you have a copy.

Second, you can also save your presentation in a secure cloud storage system, such as Dropbox or Google Drive.

This will ensure that your presentation is safe from accidental deletion or malicious attacks.

This is especially useful if you are working on a presentation that needs to be shared with multiple people.

Third, you should also make sure to use a strong password when creating your presentation.

This will make it difficult for anyone to guess your password and gain access to your presentation.

You should also avoid using generic passwords such as password or 1234 as these are easily guessed.

Finally, you should also be mindful of who has access to your presentation.

If you are sharing your presentation with multiple people, make sure to only give access to people you trust.

If someone does gain access to your presentation, they could make changes to or even delete your presentation.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your presentation is secure and protected.

With the proper security measures in place, you can rest assured that your presentation will not be compromised.

Final Thoughts

Powerpoint presentations are a great way to communicate information in an engaging and effective way.

By following the four steps outlined above, you can ensure that your presentation is safe and secure.

Password-protecting your presentation, backing it up, and utilizing secure cloud storage are all great ways to protect your presentation.

Additionally, if your presentation is ever compromised, you should take the necessary steps to protect your data.

By being proactive and taking the right steps, you can protect your presentation and allow it to be as successful as possible.

James Wilson

James Wilson has extensive knowledge in the information technology industry.His second love, besides dealing with computers, is smart home technology. He is continually updating information to better comprehend this problem and has a deep understanding of the apartment’s support system.

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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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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."

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.

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

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

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."

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.

Part 3: Best Alternative — 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."

Step 4: Select "Securite"

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

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.

Step 7: Save Your File

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

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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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15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.

Protect PowerPoint Presentation

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

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

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

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

• 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

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

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

• 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

• Protect revenue and increase ROI – reduce losses and costs
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Protect powerpoint slides: restrict access, prevent editing & copying, add expiration.

  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.

  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

   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

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

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:

  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:

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.

  PowerPoint read only mode & preventing 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.

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.

• 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.

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

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

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:

Creating a protected presentation

Encrypting a PowerPoint without passwords using Safeguard PDF DRM

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.

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.

  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.

  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.

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?

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.

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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How-To Geek

How to lock an object's position in microsoft powerpoint.

Keep the elements of your slide where they belong.

Quick Links

How to lock an object in powerpoint, unlock an object.

Have you ever accidentally moved an item in your slide and then had to spend time putting it where it was? In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can lock an object in position. This prevents those mistaken moves and wasted time.

As of this writing in January 2022, The Lock object feature is only available in PowerPoint for Windows .

You have two easy ways to lock an object on your PowerPoint slide . The first is handy if you only have a small number of items on your slide while the second works best for multiple items.

Related: How to Change Slide Size in Powerpoint

To quickly lock an object, right-click it and choose "Lock" from the shortcut menu.

If you have many items, it can be beneficial to use the Selection Pane. This lets you view, lock, and unlock items from a list.

Open this sidebar by going to the Home tab and Drawing section of the ribbon. Click the Arrange drop-down arrow and pick "Selection Pane" at the bottom of the list.

When the pane opens, you'll see all of your slide items listed. To lock one, simply click the Padlock icon to the right of it. You can lock multiple items which is convenient if you want to make sure nothing moves while you work on one specific object.

And, you'll notice each item has the lock option, from images and videos to icons and title boxes.

Related: How to Add a Video to a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation

Depending on the type of item you lock, you may see a more distinctive border around it once it's locked. As an example, you can see below that the title text box has a prominent border when you lock and select it.

You cannot move a locked object, but you can still make changes to it using the ribbon, shortcut menu, or format sidebar. Below you can see our title is locked, but we can still change the font color.

You can unlock an item on your slide just as easily as you can lock one. Either right-click the object and select "Unlock" or click the Padlock in the Selection Pane to unlock it.

Keep your slide objects and items save from accidental moves with the Lock feature in PowerPoint. For more, learn how to make a PowerPoint presentation read-only to prevent other types of changes.