Password-protect a Pages document on Mac
You can assign a password to a document so that only those who know the password can open the document. Passwords can consist of almost any combination of numerals, upper or lower case letters and special keyboard characters.
A document can have only one password. If you change an existing password when you share a document with others, the new password replaces the original. If you add a password after you share a document, make sure you notify participants.
Important: There’s no way to recover your password if you forget it. Make sure you select a password you won’t forget or write down the password in a safe place.
If your computer has Touch ID, the fingerprint detection feature, you can use it to open your password-protected documents with your fingerprint alone.
Require a password to open a document
Select File > Set Password (from the File menu at the top of your screen), enter the requested information, then click Set Password.
If your computer isn’t set up for Touch ID, “Remember this password in my keychain” appears. You can select the tick box to add the password to your keychain so you don’t have to type the password each time.
If your computer is set up for Touch ID, “Open with Touch ID” appears. You can select the tick box to turn on Touch ID for the document.
Note: Adding a password to a document encrypts the file.
Change or remove a password
With the document open, do one of the following:
Change a password: Select File > Change Password (from the File menu at the top of your screen). Enter the requested information, then click Change Password.
A document can have only one password, so if you change the password when you share the document, that becomes the document’s only password.
Remove a password: Select File > Change Password. Type the old password, then click Remove Password.
People you invite to collaborate on a document and who have editing permission can add, change or delete the password.
Set up Touch ID to open password-protected documents
Before you can use Touch ID to open password-protected documents, you need to set it up on your computer.
To set up Touch ID, do both of the following:
Set up Touch ID for your Mac: Select Apple menu > System Preferences, click Touch ID, click “Add a fingerprint”, then follow the onscreen instructions.
Note: If you don’t see Touch ID, this feature isn’t available on your Mac.
Set up Touch ID for Pages: In Pages, select Pages > Preferences (from the Pages menu at the top of your screen), then select Use Touch ID.
Open a password-protected document with Touch ID
Double-click the document, then place your finger on the right end of the Touch Bar at the top of your keyboard.
If you add a password to a document or change an existing password, it applies only to that version of the document and its subsequent versions.
If the document is shared, to prevent others from restoring an unprotected version of the document or a version with an older password, stop sharing the document, add a unique password to it, then share the document again.