How to Block Authors from Editing
How to Prevent Collaborators from Editing Specific Parts of a Word Document
When working on a Word document with others, you might want to lock certain sections to prevent edits. Microsoft Word offers a simple feature called Block Authors to achieve this. Here’s how you can use it to protect your content.
What Does the Block Authors Feature Do?
The Block Authors tool allows you to select specific text, such as a sentence or paragraph, and restrict collaborators from editing it. This feature works seamlessly across Windows and Mac, and applies to all collaborators at once.
- Select the Text to Protect
Highlight the text you want to safeguard. - Access the Block Authors Feature
- Go to the Review tab.
- Click Protect, then select Block Authors from the dropdown.
- Confirm Protection
- A block icon and a dotted line (like a bracket) will appear next to the protected text.
- Note: If the option is grayed out, ensure the document is shared with collaborators and that only text (not images) is selected.
- What Collaborators Will See
- Collaborators using Word on their desktop or online will see the same block icon and indicator.
- If they try to edit protected sections, they won’t be able to.
How to Unblock Authors
If you need to remove the restriction:
- For a Specific Portion:
- On Windows: Right-click the block icon and deselect Block Authors.
- On Mac: Click the arrow next to the block icon, then deselect Block Authors.
- For All Protected Text:
- Go to the Review tab, click Protect, and choose Block Authors.
- Select:
- Release All of My Blocked Areas (Windows)
- Unblock All My Blocked Areas (Mac)
Why Use Block Authors?
Whether it’s a signature, contact details, or perfectly phrased text, the Block Authors feature ensures your key content remains intact. Try it the next time you collaborate in Word to keep control of your work.