Word (DOCX) Write protection in C# and VB.NET

DOCX write protection enables you to lock your original Word document to prevent any changes being made to it. A Word file with write protection is opened in Word applications with a Read-Only mode. The document's content can be edited, but it cannot be re-saved with the same file name.

Note, by using the GemBox.Document library in C# and VB.NET you can modify the original Word document even if it has write protection.

The following example shows how you create a write-protected DOCX file using the WriteProtection class.

A write-protected Word file of .DOCX format created in C# and VB.NET and opened in read-only mode. — Screenshot of a write-protected Word document

using GemBox.Document;

// If using the Professional version, put your serial key below.
ComponentInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY");

var document = new DocumentModel();

document.Sections.Add(
    new Section(document,
        new Paragraph(document, "This document has been opened in read-only mode."),
        new Paragraph(document, "Changes cannot be made to the original document."),
        new Paragraph(document, "To save changes a new copy of the document must be created.")));

WriteProtection protection = document.WriteProtection;
protection.SetPassword("pass");

document.Save("DOCX Write Protection.docx");

Imports GemBox.Document

Module Program

    Sub Main()

        ' If using the Professional version, put your serial key below.
        ComponentInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY")

        Dim document As New DocumentModel()

        document.Sections.Add(
            New Section(document,
                New Paragraph(document, "This document has been opened in read-only mode."),
                New Paragraph(document, "Changes cannot be made to the original document."),
                New Paragraph(document, "To save changes a new copy of the document must be created.")))

        Dim protection As WriteProtection = document.WriteProtection
        protection.SetPassword("pass")

        document.Save("DOCX Write Protection.docx")

    End Sub
End Module

Word (DOCX) Write protection in C# and VB.NET

See also

Next steps