How to Restrict Editing in Specific Parts of a Word Document
When working on a Word document with others, you may want to prevent certain sections of text from being edited. One way to do this is by using the Block Authors feature, which allows you to restrict collaborators from modifying specific parts of your document.
This feature is simple to use, though not immediately obvious. Let’s take a look at how to block authors in Microsoft Word.
How to Block Authors in a Word Document
With the Block Authors feature, you can select any portion of text you want to protect. Once you do this, others won’t be able to make changes to it. This feature applies to everyone you’re collaborating with, so you don’t need to specify individual users. It works the same way on both Windows and Mac.
To block authors:
- Select the part of the document you want to protect from editing.
- Go to the Review tab and click the Protect drop-down menu.
- Select the Block Authors option from the list.
If the option is grayed out, it means you’re not sharing the document with anyone, or you’ve selected something other than text (such as an image).
After blocking the authors, you’ll see an icon and an indicator next to your protected text. A dotted line, similar to a bracket, will also appear on the left side of the text to show it’s been locked from editing.
When a collaborator opens the document, either on their desktop or in Word for the web, they’ll see the same block icon and indicator next to the protected text. If they try to edit any of the locked sections, they won’t be able to make changes.
How to Unblock Authors
If you want to remove protection from certain parts of your document or unblock all areas you’ve protected, it’s simple to do.
- On Windows: Right-click the block icon next to the protected text and uncheck Block Authors.
- On Mac: Click the arrow next to the block icon and select Block Authors again to remove the protection.
To unblock all protected sections:
- Go to the Review tab.
- Click Protect and select Block Authors.
- On Windows, choose Release All of My Blocked Areas; on Mac, select Unblock All My Blocked Areas.
Whether it’s a signature line, contact info, or carefully worded text, if you want to prevent your collaborators from editing certain parts, the Block Authors feature in Word is the perfect tool.