
Google won't be able to read the file, so say goodbye to online editing, but it's probably worth the trade-off if you only have a few truly sensitive documents. However, until Google adds its own password-protection feature, the best you can do is password protect your documents through Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat, and then upload that protected file to Google Drive.

The most secure cloud storage is the one you control-or, at the very least, the one in which you control the encryption. However, the individual files you may want to keep safe will still be readable if the wrong person gained access. With these security precautions in place, you can feel pretty safe that your friends, family, or thieves will be locked out of any Google Docs you have stored online. With these in place, it's highly unlikely anyone will be able to get into your account. You can also take things a step further by replacing your password completely in favor of passkeys or a physical security key. There are a few other things you can do to be more secure online, such as using a strong password and enabling two-factor authentication. Your first step should be to review your account's privacy settings and perform a security checkup to identify and plug any holes it finds, such as replacing compromised passwords and securing your linked devices. Since you can't add a password to your Google Docs, your best bet is to make sure your Google account is secure. Keep Your Google Account Secure Yubico YubiKey 5C NFC There are, however, a few things you can do to keep your account secure and still lock down individual files. This means your uploaded files are protected from snooping Google employees and hackers that may crack Google's servers, but it does not protect you if someone gains access to your personal Google account login.

If you have an account with an organization that pays for one of Google's Enterprise and Education plans, you may have access to client-side encryption if your administrator has enabled the feature.įor everyone else, Google Drive data is still encrypted on the server side to protect against unauthorized access. Google does not currently offer individual users the ability to lock documents with a password, but certain Workspace plans do.
