Password Protect PowerPoint
Lock a .pptx with a password, or unlock one you have the password for
What to do
Drop a PowerPoint file to lockTap to choose a PowerPoint file to lock
or click to browseor tap to choose
Done in your browser; the password never leaves it
Large files (over 50 MB) may take longer or run out of browser memory
About Password Protect PowerPoint
Locks a PowerPoint presentation (.pptx) with a password, or takes the password off a file you have the password for. The lock is the standard "Encrypt with Password" of PowerPoint 2010 and newer: the whole file is scrambled with AES-256, so without the password it cannot be opened, not even to see the slide text. A file locked here opens in PowerPoint and asks for the password, and a file locked in PowerPoint can be unlocked here.
There is no way to recover a lost password, here or anywhere else, so keep it somewhere safe and keep the unlocked original until you have checked the locked copy opens. Use a long password; a short one can be guessed however strong the lock is. Only the Office 2010-and-newer lock is supported: files locked by Office 2007 (older "Standard" encryption) and certificate protection are not. This is separate from PowerPoint's "Restrict editing" setting, which is not encryption. The result was cross-checked against an independent open-source implementation of the same format; it has not been opened in desktop PowerPoint.
- How strong is the lock?
- It is the Office 2010-and-newer "Encrypt with Password": AES-256 with SHA-512 and 100,000 hashing rounds. The strength depends on your password, so use a long one.
- Can you recover a lost password?
- No. Nobody can, here or anywhere else. Keep the password safe and keep your unlocked original.
- Will PowerPoint open the locked file?
- It uses the same format PowerPoint writes, and it was cross-checked in both directions against an independent open-source implementation. It has not been opened in desktop PowerPoint, so open the locked copy once to check the password before you delete the original.
- What can it not unlock?
- Files locked by Office 2007 (older Standard encryption), files protected with a certificate, old .ppt files, and "Restrict editing" settings, which are not encryption.
- Does my password leave the browser?
- No. The lock is made and removed in your browser tab, and neither the file nor the password is sent anywhere.
How to use Password Protect PowerPoint
Choose Lock or Unlock, drop your .pptx, type the password (twice to lock) and press the button. Download the new file.
When to use it
Useful for sending a deck by email or storing it in a shared folder so that only people with the password can open it.
When not to use it
If you only want to stop people editing, the password is not the right tool: use a PDF. If you need to unlock a file you do not have the password for, nothing can help.
Tips for best results
Use a long password, store it in a password manager, and open the locked copy once to test it before deleting the original.
Limitations
Only the Office 2010-and-newer lock (AES-256) is supported, not Office 2007's older lock or certificate protection, and not Restrict editing. It was cross-checked against an independent open-source implementation of the format and has not been opened in desktop PowerPoint. A lost password cannot be recovered.
Privacy
The file and the password stay inside your browser tab and are not uploaded. A request that counts the use goes to this site when you download and carries neither.
Related PowerPoint tools: