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, capital or lowercase 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, be sure to notify participants.
Important: There’s no way to recover your password if you forget it. Be sure to choose a password you won’t forget, or write the password down 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
Choose 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 checkbox 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 checkbox 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: Choose 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: Choose 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:
macOS Ventura 13 or later: Choose Apple menu
> System Settings, click Touch ID & Password, click Add Fingerprint, then follow the onscreen instructions.macOS 12 or earlier: Choose Apple menu
> System Preferences, click Touch ID, click Add 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, choose Pages > Settings (from the Pages menu at the top of your screen), then select the checkbox for Use Touch ID.
Open a password-protected document with Touch ID
Double-click the document, then place your finger on Touch ID.
If you add a password to a document, or change an existing password, it applies only to that version of the document and to 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.