Ronnie Barnes
Last updated: Mar 17, 2023 12:00 am
PowerPoint
There are a lot of reasons why you would want to make a PowerPoint document read-only. But perhaps the most important one is to keep someone else from making changes on the document. PowerPoint presentations are often sensitive and just a small change can cause the whole presentation to lose meaning. Therefore, it would make sense to make the document read-only as soon as it is done to prevent accidental changes that can alter the whole concept of the presentation. You may also want to protect the content of the presentation and the easiest way to do that would be to make it harder to edit the presentation.
Whatever your reasons for making your PowerPoint presentation read-only, this article will share with you numerous ways you can do that. We will also take the time to share with you the easiest way to unlock a read-only PowerPoint presentation.
Part 1. How to Make PowerPoint Read Only
The following are just some of the ways you can make a PowerPoint presentation read only.
1. Set Presentations to Read Only
2. Set Password to Modify Presentation
1. Set Presentations to Read Only
One of the easiest ways to make your presentation read only is to mark it as "Final". This is a feature available in MS Office that is used to let other users know that you have completed all edits on the document. Here's how to do it;
Step 1: Open the document you want to protect and then click on "File".
Step 2: Click on "Info" and then select "Protect Presentation".
Step 3: In the options on the drop-down menu, click on "Mark as Final".
Step 4: Click "OK" in the dialogue box that appears and click "OK" again to confirm.
The next time you open the document, you will see a yellow "Marked as Final" message at the top. If you want to edit the document, simply click on "Edit Anyway" to restore your editing privileges.
2. Set Password to Modify Presentation
You can also choose to set a password to restrict modification of the document. Here's how to do that;
Step 1: Open the presentation and then click on "File > Save As".
Step 2: Click on "Tools" at the bottom of the "Save As" dialogue box and then click on "General Options".
Step 3: In the box marked "Password to Modify", type in the password you would like to use and then click "OK". Reenter the password and then click "OK".
Step 4: Click "Save" to save the PowerPoint presentation and the next time someone tries to edit the document, they will be required to enter the password.
3. Burn PowerPoint to CD/DVD
Another really easy way to make a PowerPoint not read only is to burn the file onto CD/DVD. There are a lot of programs that can help you do that and since storage media like CD/DVD is read-only, you are assured of the safety of the data on the presentation. It is also much easier to playback the presentation when it is on CD/DVD.
4. Convert PowerPoint to Read-Only Video
In the same way, you can also convert your PowerPoint presentation into read-only video. This will not just make it impossible for others to edit the content on the presentation, but it will also make it easier to distribute the presentation.
There are a lot of tools that can help you convert the PowerPoint presentation to video, including screen recorders like Adobe Captivate and Camtasia Studio or Quick Time Movie and Windows Movie Maker.
5. Set Restrict Access
You may also be able to prevent others from editing the presentation if you use the "Restrict Access" option. The following is how to do that;
Step 1: Open the document and then click on "File".
Step 2: Click on "Info > Protect Document" and from then choose "Restrict Access" from the dropdown menu.
This option will allow people to open and read the document but they will be unable to print, edit or copy any of the content on the presentation.
Part 2. How to Unlock a Read Only PowerPoint
What if you find yourself unable to edit a read only PowerPoint presentation? If someone has sent you an incomplete presentation that has restrictions, the best way to lift these restrictions and edit the document is to use Passper for PowerPoint. This is a password recovery tool that makes it very easy for you to unlock any presentation and lift any restrictions placed on the document. The following are some of the program's features;
Check 2,900,000 passwords /S: It has one of the fastest password recovery rates in the market because it can check up to 2,900,000 passwords per second.
4 Attack Modes Available: 4 different attack modes are used to make it easier to recover the password in the shortest time possible. The fact that it has a database of millions of frequently used passwords is just an added bonus.
Remove Edit Restrictions: It can remove any editing restrictions on the presentation within 2 seconds in a single click.
It is compatible with all versions of MS Office and 100% safe to use. None of the data on the program will be lost or damaged in any way during the recovery process.
Follow these simple steps to use Passper for PowerPoint to unlock a read-only presentation.
Step 1: Download and install Passper for PowerPoint on your computer and then launch the program. In the main window, click on "Remove Restrictions".
Step 2: Import the presentation into the program and then click on "Remove".
In a few seconds all editing restrictions will be lifted from the document, allowing you to edit the presentation any way you want.
How to Recover PowerPoint Presentation if You Can't Open the File
If you are unable to open the presentation because it is password protected and you don't have the password, Passper for PowerPoint can also help you easily recover the password and use it to open the presentation. Here's how to do that;
Step 1: Open Passper for PowerPoint and choose "Recover Passwords" in the main window.
Step 2: Add the protected presentation into the program and then select a recovery method to use. Click "Recover".
Step 3: The program will immediately begin the process of recovering the password. When the process is complete, the password will be displayed on the screen. You can use it to unlock the document.
Conclusion
Make PowerPoint read only is a simple, yet highly effective technique to help you prevent accidental edits on your presentation and also keep the content safe. But sometimes this well-meaning feature can keep you locked out of your own document. If you find yourself unable to access the PowerPoint presentation or unable to edit it, Passper for PowerPoint presents the best solution to help you recover the password or lift restrictions thanks to its faster recovery speeds, more attack methods and higher recovery rates.
