How to Use

Use Restrict Editing through 5 how-to topics, including enabling the feature, setting editing restrictions, adding password protection, removing protection, and setting exception areas.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Enable Restrict Editing

Entry: Review → Restrict Editing

1. Open your WPS Writer document.
2. Click the Review tab on the top menu bar.
3. Click Restrict Editing.
4. If needed, open the task pane on the right side and access Restrict Editing there.

Success Criteria

• The Restrict Editing task pane appears.
• You can continue to configure formatting or editing restrictions.

Tips While Using

• Make sure the current file is an editable document instead of a read-only copy.
• If the window is narrow, expand the right-side pane to view all options.

2. Set Editing Restrictions

Entry: Restrict Editing pane

1. In the Restrict Editing pane, select Limit formatting to a selection of styles.
2. Select Allow only this type of editing in the document.
3. Open the drop-down list and choose the restriction type you need.
4. Select No changes (Read only), Tracked changes, Comments, or Filling in forms based on your document purpose.

Success Criteria

• The restriction type is selected in the drop-down list.
• The document follows the selected editing mode afterward.

Tips While Using

• Read-only works well for finalized documents.
• Tracked changes and comments are useful for review workflows.
• Filling in forms is suitable for fixed templates.

3. Set Password Protection

Entry: Bottom of the Restrict Editing pane

1. After setting the editing restriction, click Start Protection.
2. Choose password protection.
3. Enter the password and confirm it again.
4. Click OK to start protection.

Success Criteria

• The document enters a protected state.
• A password is required when you stop protection.

Tips While Using

• Keep the password in a safe place because you will need it to stop protection later.
• It is a good idea to save an unrestricted backup copy before starting protection.

4. Remove Restrict Editing

Entry: Review → Restrict Editing → Stop Protection

1. Open the protected document.
2. Click Stop Protection.
3. Enter the password you set earlier.
4. Click OK to restore normal editing.

Success Criteria

• The document is no longer protected.
• You can edit the main content or adjust the restriction settings again.

Tips While Using

• If the password is incorrect, protection cannot be removed.
• After protection is removed, the current restriction rules no longer apply.

5. Set Exception Areas

Entry: Restrict Editing pane → More Users

1. Open the Restrict Editing pane.
2. Click More Users.
3. Add the users who should be allowed to edit.
4. Save the settings and let the added users edit the permitted content in the restricted document.

Success Criteria

• Added users can edit within the allowed scope in the restricted document.
• Other unauthorized users remain limited by the restriction rules.

Tips While Using

• Confirm the user information before assigning exception permissions.
• Exception areas are useful for collaborative documents that still need controlled editing ranges.