diff --git a/R/class-workbook-wrappers.R b/R/class-workbook-wrappers.R
index 79b256f24..359b97ffb 100644
--- a/R/class-workbook-wrappers.R
+++ b/R/class-workbook-wrappers.R
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ wb_workbook <- function(
 #' @param wb A `wbWorkbook` object to write to file
 #' @param path A path to save the workbook to
 #' @param overwrite If `FALSE`, will not overwrite when `path` exists
+#' @param password an optional password to encrypt the input file. The input is
+#' encrypted once the output file is written. The password is expected to be
+#' plain text. If security is of importance, do not use this argument. If the
+#' password is lost, opening the file will be impossible.
 #'
 #' @export
 #' @family workbook wrappers
@@ -74,9 +78,9 @@ wb_workbook <- function(
 #' \donttest{
 #' wb_save(wb, path = temp_xlsx(), overwrite = TRUE)
 #' }
-wb_save <- function(wb, path = NULL, overwrite = TRUE) {
+wb_save <- function(wb, path = NULL, overwrite = TRUE, password = NULL) {
   assert_workbook(wb)
-  wb$clone()$save(path = path, overwrite = overwrite)
+  wb$clone()$save(path = path, overwrite = overwrite, password = password)
 }
 
 # add data ----------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/R/class-workbook.R b/R/class-workbook.R
index 5f4edd688..e92cc11ca 100644
--- a/R/class-workbook.R
+++ b/R/class-workbook.R
@@ -1490,6 +1490,7 @@ wbWorkbook <- R6::R6Class(
     #' @param sheet sheet
     #' @param data_only data_only
     #' @param calc_chain calc_chain
+    #' @param password password
     #' @param ... additional arguments
     #' @return The `wbWorkbook` object invisibly
     load = function(
@@ -1498,6 +1499,7 @@ wbWorkbook <- R6::R6Class(
       sheet,
       data_only  = FALSE,
       calc_chain = FALSE,
+      password   = NULL,
       ...
     ) {
       if (missing(file)) file <- substitute()
@@ -1521,8 +1523,9 @@ wbWorkbook <- R6::R6Class(
     #' Save the workbook
     #' @param path The path to save the workbook to
     #' @param overwrite If `FALSE`, will not overwrite when `path` exists
+    #' @param password password
     #' @return The `wbWorkbook` object invisibly
-    save = function(path = self$path, overwrite = TRUE) {
+    save = function(path = self$path, overwrite = TRUE, password = NULL) {
       assert_class(path, "character")
       assert_class(overwrite, "logical")
 
@@ -2206,6 +2209,10 @@ wbWorkbook <- R6::R6Class(
         stop("Failed to save workbook")
       }
 
+      if (!is.null(password)) {
+        msoc("enc", inFile = path, outFile = path, pass = password)
+      }
+
       # (re)assign file path (if successful)
       self$path <- path
       invisible(self)
diff --git a/R/wb_load.R b/R/wb_load.R
index 29d9a5309..6c793da35 100644
--- a/R/wb_load.R
+++ b/R/wb_load.R
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@
 #' chain will be created upon the next time the worksheet is loaded in
 #' spreadsheet software. Keeping it, might only speed loading time in said
 #' software.
+#' @param password an optional password to decrypt the input file. The input is
+#' decrypted into a temporary folder on the hard drive. Afterwards it is loaded
+#' into a wbWorkbook object and can be interacted with. Unless it is saved with
+#' [wb_save()] argument `password` it remains decrypted. And the password is
+#' expected to be plain text. If security is of importance, do not use this
+#' argument.
 #' @param ... additional arguments
 #' @description  wb_load returns a workbook object conserving styles and
 #' formatting of the original .xlsx file.
@@ -33,15 +39,22 @@
 #' wb$add_worksheet("A new worksheet")
 wb_load <- function(
     file,
-    xlsx_file = NULL,
+    xlsx_file  = NULL,
     sheet,
-    data_only = FALSE,
+    data_only  = FALSE,
     calc_chain = FALSE,
+    password   = NULL,
     ...
 ) {
 
   standardize_case_names(...)
 
+  if (!is.null(password)) {
+    temp <- temp_xlsx()
+    msoc("dec", inFile = file, outFile = temp, pass = password)
+    file <- temp
+  }
+
   file <- xlsx_file %||% file
   file <- getFile(file)
 
diff --git a/man/wbWorkbook.Rd b/man/wbWorkbook.Rd
index c2a4a15f2..509b57d3c 100644
--- a/man/wbWorkbook.Rd
+++ b/man/wbWorkbook.Rd
@@ -914,6 +914,7 @@ load workbook
   sheet,
   data_only = FALSE,
   calc_chain = FALSE,
+  password = NULL,
   ...
 )}\if{html}{\out{</div>}}
 }
@@ -931,6 +932,8 @@ load workbook
 
 \item{\code{calc_chain}}{calc_chain}
 
+\item{\code{password}}{password}
+
 \item{\code{...}}{additional arguments}
 }
 \if{html}{\out{</div>}}
@@ -945,7 +948,7 @@ The \code{wbWorkbook} object invisibly
 \subsection{Method \code{save()}}{
 Save the workbook
 \subsection{Usage}{
-\if{html}{\out{<div class="r">}}\preformatted{wbWorkbook$save(path = self$path, overwrite = TRUE)}\if{html}{\out{</div>}}
+\if{html}{\out{<div class="r">}}\preformatted{wbWorkbook$save(path = self$path, overwrite = TRUE, password = NULL)}\if{html}{\out{</div>}}
 }
 
 \subsection{Arguments}{
@@ -954,6 +957,8 @@ Save the workbook
 \item{\code{path}}{The path to save the workbook to}
 
 \item{\code{overwrite}}{If \code{FALSE}, will not overwrite when \code{path} exists}
+
+\item{\code{password}}{password}
 }
 \if{html}{\out{</div>}}
 }
diff --git a/man/wb_load.Rd b/man/wb_load.Rd
index 4badaebd0..4e2a9cd96 100644
--- a/man/wb_load.Rd
+++ b/man/wb_load.Rd
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ wb_load(
   sheet,
   data_only = FALSE,
   calc_chain = FALSE,
+  password = NULL,
   ...
 )
 }
@@ -31,6 +32,13 @@ chain will be created upon the next time the worksheet is loaded in
 spreadsheet software. Keeping it, might only speed loading time in said
 software.}
 
+\item{password}{an optional password to decrypt the input file. The input is
+decrypted into a temporary folder on the hard drive. Afterwards it is loaded
+into a wbWorkbook object and can be interacted with. Unless it is saved with
+\code{\link[=wb_save]{wb_save()}} argument \code{password} it remains decrypted. And the password is
+expected to be plain text. If security is of importance, do not use this
+argument.}
+
 \item{...}{additional arguments}
 }
 \value{
diff --git a/man/wb_save.Rd b/man/wb_save.Rd
index f763029c0..6fe2bc244 100644
--- a/man/wb_save.Rd
+++ b/man/wb_save.Rd
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 \alias{wb_save}
 \title{Save Workbook to file}
 \usage{
-wb_save(wb, path = NULL, overwrite = TRUE)
+wb_save(wb, path = NULL, overwrite = TRUE, password = NULL)
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{wb}{A \code{wbWorkbook} object to write to file}
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ wb_save(wb, path = NULL, overwrite = TRUE)
 \item{path}{A path to save the workbook to}
 
 \item{overwrite}{If \code{FALSE}, will not overwrite when \code{path} exists}
+
+\item{password}{an optional password to encrypt the input file. The input is
+encrypted once the output file is written. The password is expected to be
+plain text. If security is of importance, do not use this argument. If the
+password is lost, opening the file will be impossible.}
 }
 \value{
 the \code{wbWorkbook} object, invisibly
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-cryptography.R b/tests/testthat/test-cryptography.R
index 0e6b57c70..f6e6cc541 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-cryptography.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-cryptography.R
@@ -31,4 +31,14 @@ test_that("test that encryption works", {
     0
   )
 
+  tmp <- temp_xlsx()
+  wbin <- wb_workbook()$add_worksheet()$
+    add_data(x = head(iris))$save(tmp, password = "openxlsx2")
+
+  wbout <- wb_load(tmp, password = "openxlsx2")
+  exp <- wb_to_df(wbin)
+  got <- wb_to_df(wbout)
+
+  expect_equal(exp, got)
+
 })