Remove and Change Passwords in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows

You may want to encrypt your PowerPoint file with a password for various security reasons. There are two password levels you can implement within a PowerPoint file: a password to open and a password to edit. However, even if you add a password to your presentation, there may come a time when you want to remove the password altogether. Or, you may want to change the password. PowerPoint 2013 provides a very simple way to add a password. However, there is no obvious or intuitive command to remove or change the password protection. Follow these steps to learn more:

1. First open your password protected presentation. You might be prompted to type in your password while opening or editing - do type in your password(s).
2. Then access the File tab of the Ribbon, and choose the Save As option, as shown highlighted in blue within Figure 1.
   
   
   Figure 1: Save As option within File menu
3. Now click the Browse button, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 2.
   
   
   Figure 2: Browse button within the Save As Pane
4. This brings up the Save As dialog box, as shown in Figure 3. Click the Tools button located at the lower right of the Save As dialog box - and from the drop-down list that appears, select General Options, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 3.
   
   
   Figure 3: General Options selected
   
   
   Tip: You can also use the F12 Function key to directly access the Save As dialog box without opening the Save As Pane of Backstage view. Want more keyboard shortcuts? Get a copy of our PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts and Sequences Ebook.
5. This brings up the General Options dialog box that you can see in Figure 4. As you can see in Figure 4, this presentation has the Password to open field already populated. To remove the password, just place your cursor in the text box, and delete the password or passwords you want to remove (Open or Modify, or both). Similarly, to change the passwords, overwrite any old passwords with new ones.
   
   
   Figure 4: General Options dialog box
6. Once the password(s) are deleted or changed, click the OK button.
7. You will get back to the Save As dialog box (see Figure 3, shown earlier on this page). Now, proceed with one of the following options:
   
   • To make a new copy of your password protected file that has the passwords removed or changed, type in a new file name and click the Save button. PowerPoint will continue saving the presentation as a new file with the new name.
   
   • To overwrite your previously password protected file, do not change the file name. Just click the Save button. PowerPoint will ask you whether you want to replace the existing file with the new file (see Figure 5, below). Click Yes to continue.
   
   
   Figure 5: Do you want to replace an existing file?
8. Save your presentation often.

See Also:

Remove and Change Passwords in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows
Remove and Change Passwords in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows