can i lock a powerpoint presentation

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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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.

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.

Tell your story with captivating presentations

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 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 Password Protect PowerPoint (Step-by-Step)

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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 .

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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.

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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:

• How to Share a PowerPoint Presentation Online
• How to Add Narration to a PowerPoint Presentation
• How to Add YouTube Video Into PPT Presentation
• How to Structure a PowerPoint Presentation

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May 09 2009

Password Protect Your PowerPoint Slides

The Dharma Initiative might want to mix up their passwords for their top secret PPT presentations.

If you share your PowerPoint slides with other people inside or outside your organization, you may want to control or lock your slides so that they can only be viewed or edited by select people .

Nothing can be more painful than seeing your carefully designed PowerPoint presentation being butchered by random individuals within your company. PowerPoint provides a couple of options to control what happens to your slides after you’ve built them.

Two Options for Password Protecting Your Slides

When it comes to password protecting your PowerPoint slides, you have two key options:

• Password to open: Restrict who can view your presentation file. Use this option when you want to prevent people from seeing confidential or sensitive slides.
• Password to modify: Control who can edit your PowerPoint slides. Use this option when you’re okay with letting people see your slides as long as they can’t edit them without your permission.

How to Password Protect Your PowerPoint File

In order to access these options, you’ll need to follow these steps:

• Go to save your file and on the “Save As” menu you’ll notice a Tools button on the bottom left.
• Click on the Tools button and select “General Options” .
• Enter a password for the option(s) that are most appropriate to your circumstances.

When you save your file, go into the General Options via the Tools button to add passwords to your PowerPoint file.

Words of Caution

This is what users will see depending on what you specified.

PowerPoint’s password protection features are not intended as security features. They are primarily designed to prevent unintentional viewing and editing of PowerPoint files. Your PowerPoint presentation will not be encrypted , and it can still be edited by malicious users. If you forget or lose your password, you won’t be able to retrieve the password to access the file so be careful. Also be aware that the passwords are case sensitive .

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Tags: password protection , passwords , security

Comments (9)

9 Responses to “Password Protect Your PowerPoint Slides”

My PowerPoint is used for training a group. Each individual receives a cd with the presentation. They must review all the slides. I need each person to review the slides in the appropriate amount of time it takes to learn from the slides and not just fast forward through the course. I can put it in kiosk mode and put a time in for automatic forward. The problem is that if they want to return to a previous slide for review they cannot. If they want to exit or pause the slides they cannot. Is there a way for the student to return to a previous slide or return to where they left off? The bottom line is that the curriculum requires the presentation to take atleast 6 hours to complete, but students must be able to access previous slides without starting the presentation from the start, again.

Thank you for your assistance.

All I can think of is creating a sort of table of content or menu on the first slide and add a hyperlink to it on the slide master so if they need to navigate back to a previous chapter they can do it that way…

i need to know how to lock a specific slide because i wand everyone to acess some of the slides but only select people to acess the rest

As far as I know, that’s not possible. I believe the password-protection is for the entire presentation and not for specific slides. Could you split up the presentation to address the different permissions? That’s the only workaround I can think of.

My powerpoint presentation is on mac Microsoft 2011. and it does not give me those options. in file, under “save as” its says “restricted access” and when i click it i get” Enter your fully qualified network user name and password”. What do I do to lock my microsoft powerpoint presentation 2011 on mac? hope you can help. thanks

With PowerPoint 2010 for PC, can I lock the slides but not the speaking notes so that 18 different presenters do show all the same content but each one of them can add their own speaking notes that will not appear on the screen to the audience?

I’m not aware of a way to lock specific parts of PowerPoint such as the slide content but not the notes. It’s an all or nothing thing.

One option that’s coming to my mind is to create static images of each slide. The presenters will not be able to edit the slide content but will be able to add their own notes. The limitation of this approach is that it won’t allow animations if all of the slide content is one image. That’s all I can think of.

how do you lock a template only if you already have it drafted?

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Protect PowerPoint Presentation

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

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

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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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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.

• 1. How to Lock Cells on Google Sheets
• 2. Paano I-lock ang Isang Row sa Excel [Step-by-Step]
• 3. How to Turn Off Scroll Lock in Excel (A Step-by-Step Guide)
• 4. Do You Know How to Lock a PDF from Editing?
• 5. How to Lock a Row in Excel When Scrolling Down?
• 6. How to Lock a Row in Google Sheets (Easy & Quick)

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

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.

How to Lock an Image, Shape or Other Object in PowerPoint

Lock Objects in PowerPoint to Prevent Moving and Resizing

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated August 25, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® 365 (Windows)

You can now lock an image, shape or other object in PowerPoint. Objects can be locked in Normal View or Slide Master View. Only PowerPoint 365 users can lock objects to prevent moving and resizing. This is helpful if you want to select and move other objects on the slide or prevent others from moving or resizing an object. You can lock items using the context menu or the Selection Pane.

Recommended article: PowerPoint vs Google Slides (Full Feature Comparison + Benefits)

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint? Check out our virtual classroom or in-person PowerPoint courses >

In this article, we'll review how to:

Lock an image, shape or other object using a drop-down menu

Unlock an image, shape or other object using a drop-down menu, lock an image, shape or other object using the selection pane, unlock an image, shape or other object using the selection pane, lock an image, shape or other object using third-party tools.

Although you cannot move (change position) or resize a locked object, you can still make editing changes to some objects such as changing the font color of text, changing the fill color of a shape or adjusting brightness, color and contrast of an image. Some objects, like SmartArt, cannot be edited once they are locked.

You can also lock video and audio files, SmartArt, tables and charts.

Background images (created using Format Background) cannot be moved by dragging so they don't need to be locked.

When you lock an image, shape or other object, a different type of border appears when you select it if it's locked. In the following example, note the border around the locked image:

To lock an image, shape or other object by right-clicking:

• In Normal View, select the object on the slide that you want to lock. If you want to select a text placeholder or text box, click its edge. You can also select an object on the Slide Master or on a slide layout in Slide Master View.
• Right-click the object and select Lock from the drop-down menu.

To lock an image, shape or other object using a keyboard shortcut:

• Press the Context button on your keyboard or press Shift + F10 to display the drop-down menu. Some users may also need to press Fn at the same time as Shift + F10.
• Press the down arrow key to select Lock.
• Press Enter.

The context menu appears as follows when you right-click an unlocked object (or use the keyboard shortcut method above):

To unlock an image, shape or other object using a drop-down menu:

• In Normal View, select the object on the slide that you want to unlock. If you want to select a text placeholder or text box, click its edge. You can also select an object on the Slide Master or on a slide layout in Slide Master View.
• Right-click the object and select Unlock from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, press the Context button or press Shift + F10 to display the drop-down menu, use your arrow keys to select Unlock and press Enter.

The context menu appears as follows when you right-click a locked object:

The Selection Pane is a fantastic tool in PowerPoint for selecting and manipulating objects.

To lock an image, shape or other object using the Selection Pane:

• If the Selection Pane is not displayed, click the Home tab in the Ribbon and click Select in the Editing group. You can also display the Selection Pane using the Format tab in the Ribbon if a Picture or Shape is selected.
• From the drop-down menu, click Selection Pane. The Selection Pane appears on the right side of the screen. You can also display the Selection Pane by pressing Alt + F10 (some users may need to press Fn + Alt + F10).
• In Normal View, display the slide with the object(s) you want to lock. Alternatively, display the Slide Master or slide layout with the object(s) you want to lock.
• Click the Lock icon that appears to the right of the object you want to lock until is appears as a closed lock.
• Repeat for other objects.

The Selection Pane appears as follows with locked and unlocked objects:

To unlock an image, shape or other object using the Selection Pane:

• If the Selection Pane is not displayed, click the Home tab in the Ribbon and click Select in the Editing group.
• In Normal View, display the slide with the object(s) you want to unlock. Alternatively, display the Slide Master or slide layout with the object(s) you want to unlock.
• Click the Lock icon that appears to the right of the object you want to unlock until is appears as an open lock.

The Selection Pane appears as follows with unlocked objects:

If you have an older version of PowerPoint, there are some third-party add-ins you can get to lock objects. Since they are add-ins, you would need to install them.

To get add-ins:

• Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
• In the Add-Ins group, select Get Add-ins. A Microsoft Store dialog box appears.
• In the Store dialog box, enter PowerPoint in the Search box and press Enter. PowerPoint add-ins will appear on the right.
• Click the add-in you want and then click Add.
• Select the option to agree to the terms.

Installed add-ins will be listed under My Add-Ins on the Insert tab in the Ribbon. When using an add-in, you may be prompted to set up an account with the add-in developer.

Some add-ins are premium and you will need to pay an additional charge.

You can also search for PowerPoint add-ins online.

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More resources

How to Print a PowerPoint Presentation with Notes

How to Remove the Background of an Image in PowerPoint

How to Make a Picture Transparent in PowerPoint (3 Ways)

How to Add Animation in PowerPoint (Animate Text, Images and Other Objects)

How to Use the Selection Pane in PowerPoint to Select, Reorder, Rename and Hide Objects 

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Microsoft PowerPoint: Design for Non-Designers

Microsoft PowerPoint: Animations Bootcamp

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Microsoft Word: Intermediate / Advanced

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You can insert or type e with an accent mark in PowerPoint using built-in tools or keyboard shortcuts (including Alt code shortcuts). The letter e can be inserted with an accent in both upper or lower case in text boxes or placeholders on slides, the slide master or layouts. The following are common accents in upper or lower case – È, É, Ê, Ë, è, é, ê, or ë.

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When comparing PowerPoint vs Google Slides (and trying to decide which is the better choice for your needs), you will need to consider versions when you compare the two applications. In this article, we'll compare the desktop or downloadable version of PowerPoint vs Google Slides, an online program that works in a browser. The key difference then if you are comparing PowerPoint vs Google Slides is that PowerPoint must be downloaded and runs on your desktop and Google Slides runs online. The desktop version of PowerPoint is a robust, full-featured program with many advanced features. You can buy PowerPoint as a stand-alone version or as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you are a 365 subscriber, new features roll out on a regular basis.

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Lock option in powerpoint is not present

So, for fast organization of pictures and text boxes, I use 'design Ideas', but need to modify locked shapes through selection pane. Also, sometimes need to lock background. After reinstallation (and updates), I found it's not there. I have checked all the settings; all the available commands in ribbon; also searched it in bar (ALT+Q); but it is nowhere.

It should be there below 'Send to Back'. Selection pane also not showing the lock icon anymore.

This is a fresh install (not from microsft store) - so do u have any reason of why it happens?

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I'd put it down to Microsoft's flakey installation routine, where 365 commands that should be there do not appear, and 2019/2021 retail versions show commands that should be 365 only. I have Microsoft 365, Version 2112 (Build 14729.20194 Click-to-Run) installed, and I don't have the lock command either.

If you can't get the command to show and you really need to lock an object, here's how to do it by hacking the XML of the file: OOXML Hacking: Locking Graphics

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• Q&A: Tips for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse

Q&A: Tips for viewing the 2024 solar eclipse

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On Monday, April 8, the United States will experience a total solar eclipse — a rare astronomical event where the moon passes directly between the sun and the Earth, blocking out the sun’s light almost completely. The last total solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. was in 2017, and the next one won’t be until 2044.

If the weather cooperates, people across the United States — from northeastern Maine to southwestern Texas — will be able to observe the eclipse using protective eyewear. Those in the path of totality , where the moon entirely covers the sun, will have the best view, but 99% of people in the continental U.S. will be able to see a partial eclipse. Weather permitting, those on the MIT campus and the surrounding area will see 93 percent of the sun covered, with the partial eclipse starting at 2:15 p.m. and reaching its peak around 3:29 p.m. Gatherings are planned at the Kresge Oval and the MIT Museum , and a live NASA stream will be shown in the Building 55 atrium .

Brian Mernoff , manager of the CommLab in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is an accomplished astrophotographer and science educator. Mernoff is headed to Vermont with his family to experience the totality from the best possible angle — but has offered a few thoughts on how to enjoy the eclipse safely, wherever you are.

Q: What should viewers expect to see and experience with this solar eclipse?

A: When you’re watching TV (the sun) and your toddler, dog, or other large mammal (the moon) blocks your view, you no doubt move over a bit to try to get a partial or full view of the TV. This is exactly how the path of totality works for an eclipse. If you are exactly in line with the moon and sun, it will be completely blocked, but if you start moving away from this path, your view of the sun will start to increase until the moon is not in the way at all.

The closer you are to the path of totality, the more of the sun will be blocked. At MIT, about 93 percent of the sun will be blocked. Those in the area will notice that things around you will get slightly darker, just like when it starts to become overcast. Even so, the sun will remain very bright in the sky and solar glasses will be required to view the entirety of the eclipse. It really goes to show how incredibly bright the sun is!

Within the narrow path of totality, the moon will continue to move across the sun, reaching 100 percent coverage. For this short period of time, you can remove your glasses and see a black disk where the sun should be. Around the disk will be wispy white lines. This is the corona, the outermost part of the sun, which is normally outshone by the sun’s photosphere (surface). Around the edges of the black disk of the moon, right as totality begins and ends, you can also see bright spots around the edges, known as Bailey’s Beads, caused by sunlight shining between mountains and craters on the moon.

But that’s not all! Although you will be tempted to stare up at the sun throughout totality, do not forget to observe the world around you. During totality, it feels like twilight. There is a 360-degree sunset, the temperature changes rapidly, winds change, animals start making different sounds, and shadows start getting weird (look into “shadow bands” if you have a chance).

As soon as totality ends, and you start to see Baily’s Beads again, put your solar glasses back on as it will get very bright again very fast as the moon moves out of the way.

Q: What are the best options for viewing the eclipse safely and to greatest effect?

A: No matter where you are during the eclipse, make sure you have solar glasses. These glasses should be ISO-approved for solar viewing. Do not use glasses with scratches, holes, or other damage.

If you are unable to obtain solar glasses in time, you can safely view the eclipse using a home-made projection method , such as a pinhole camera or even projecting the image of the sun through a colander.

The best view of the eclipse will be from within the path of totality, but even if you are not within it, you should still go outside to experience the partial eclipse. Use the NASA Eclipse Explorer to find the start, maximum, and end times, and then find a nice spot outside — preferably with some shade — put on your glasses, and enjoy the show.

For a closer view of the sun, find a friend that has a telescope with the correct ISO-certified solar filter. This will let you see the photosphere (or chromosphere if it is an H-alpha scope) in a lot more detail. If you do not have access to a telescope, NASA plans to livestream a telescope view throughout the eclipse. [The livestream will be displayed publicly on a large screen in Building 55 at MIT, rain or shine.]

The only time you can look at or image the sun without a filter is during 100 percent totality. As soon as this period is done, glasses and filters must be put back on.

After the eclipse, keep your glasses and filters. You can use them to look at the sun on any day (it took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that I could use the glasses at any time instead of lugging out a telescope). On a really clear day, you can sometimes see sunspots!

Q: How does eclipse photography work?

A: This year I plan to photograph the eclipse in two ways. The first is using a hydrogen-alpha telescope. This telescope filters out all light except for one wavelength that is given off by hydrogen. Because it blocks out most of the light from the sun’s surface, it allows you to see the turbulent upper atmosphere of the sun, including solar prominences that follow magnetic field lines.

Because this telescope does not allow for imaging during totality as too much light is blocked, I also plan to set up a regular camera with a wide-angle lens to capture the total eclipse with the surrounding environment as context. During the 2017 eclipse, I only captured close-ups of the sun using a regular solar filter and missed the opportunity to capture what was going on around me.

Will it work? That depends on if we get clear skies, and how many pictures of my 1.5-year-old need to be taken (as well as how much chasing needs to be done).

If you would like to take pictures of the eclipse, make sure you protect your camera sensor. The sun can easily damage lenses, sensors, and other components. Here are some examples of solar damaged cameras . The solution is simple, though. If using a camera phone, you can take pictures through an extra pair of solar glasses, or even tape them to the phone. For cameras with larger lenses, you can buy cardboard filters that slide over the front of your camera or even buy ISO-approved solar film and make your own.

Q: Any fun, unique, cool, or interesting science facts about this eclipse to share?

A: If you want to get even more involved with the eclipse, there are many citizen science projects that plan to collect as much data as possible throughout the eclipse.

NASA is planning to run several experiments during the eclipse , and researchers with MIT Haystack Observatory will also be using four different technologies to monitor changes in the upper atmosphere , both locally and across the continent.

If you are interested in learning more about the eclipse, here are two of my favorite videos, one on “ unexpected science from a 0.000001 megapixel home-made telescope ” and one on solar eclipse preparation .

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