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How to Convert PDF to Locked PDF Document in a Few Steps?

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Written By Tej Pratap Shukla
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh  
Published On December 2nd, 2024
Reading Time 6 Minutes Reading

In the age of information, protecting the document has become a new challenge for many professionals. It certainly prevails over the fear of data loss, misleading, and even tampering. It mainly happens if you leave your PDF document free for download. Luckily, reading this guide will help you to convert PDF to locked PDF files. Here, we will share effective ways to protect your confidential PDF document from vulnerabilities like unwanted updation of data, document distribution, and more. Now, let’s dive in to begin this tutorial.

What is the Purpose of Converting PDF Into Secured Document?

A locked document stops users from accessing the PDF without legitimate accessibility. It helps document creators to secure sensitivity including confidential information from lurking threats or unauthorized access. Additionally, these restrictions control actions like editing, content repurposing, and taking printable copies of PDF files.

There are various industries like government institutions, healthcare, finance, marketing, etc who tend to convert PDF to locked PDF documents. It adds convenience for these sectors to ensure data protection and safeguard their client trust. Here are the other reasons to convert PDF to secured PDF file:

Prevent Data Violation: Converting the normal PDF into a protected one prevents unauthorized viewers from modifying or accessing the document. In this way, you can safeguard the confidential data with document integrity.

Convert PDF Into Restricted File: If the PDF is locked then, viewers receive a warning message like “this document is password protected, need passkey to access the data.” In this way, users with legitimate access can open the locked PDFs.

Build Trust and Credibility: PDF protection conveys trust and seriousness of the data, especially when sharing it with clients, teams, and others. In this way, professionals can grow trust and credibility with their customers.

Overall, these are the common benefits of converting a normal PDF into a secured document. Additionally, many industries support this kind of protection for compliance with strong data protection regulations like GDPR or HIPAA. Now, let’s understand the methods to convert PDF to protected PDF with ease.

How to Convert PDF to Locked PDF Document?

If you’re seeking how to convert PDF to password protected PDF files, follow the below guide. In the following section, we will share the best methods that help you to secure the sensitivity of your PDF file. These approaches are from basic to advanced levels while adhering to the standards of GDPR, HIPAA, or DRM rights. Here are the ways for how to make a PDF secure file:

1. Online Normal PDF to Protected PDF Converter
2. Acrobat Software to Convert PDF to Locked PDF
3. SysTools PDF Protecting Tool for Saving the Secured Document

Now, let’s understand these methods in a detailed manner.

How to Convert PDF to Password Protected PDF Using Online PDF Protecting Tools

Online tools are handy for users to convert PDF to protected PDF documents. There are various converters such as iLovePDF, Smallpdf, PDF2go, etc. Moreover, this pro solution unable viewers from viewing, editing, and printing the document in the absence of a legitimate passkey. Moreover, the secured document prevents viewers from making the necessary changes, making the document unchanged. Here are the steps to convert PDF to locked PDF:

  1. Open any of these tools on your PC or mobile devices.
  2. Search for the Select Files option to add the normal PDFs.
    add normal all pdfs
  3. Now, select the Flatten feature and then, download your flatten file.
Please Note: Online tools aren’t reliable for converting a normal PDF into a protected document. Moreover, these tools contain several risks, such as breaching compliance standards. Most importantly, this software secretly steals confidential data that certainly impacts on the reputation of the company and the client’s trustworthiness. So, please be mindful while using the online services.

How to Convert PDF to Locked PDF With Adobe Acrobat Software

Unline online solutions, if you’re searching for a secure way to convert documents into protected PDFs, you need Adobe Acrobat tool. This is an amazing software that comes with feature-rich functionalities to add lock security to PDF files. Moreover, this tool leverages you to add restrictions like open passwords and some permissions like modifying, text copying, or printing.

In this way, it helps document creators protect the document’s integrity and sensitivity. With this, only legitimate viewers can open the document. Here are the step instructions for how to convert PDF to password protected document:

  1. Download and run Adobe Acrobat tool on your PC.
  2. Find Properties and then, click on “Security”.
  3. Under Security > enable Password Security.
    choose password security option
  4. After this, set the required passkey or permissions.
  5. Lastly, press OK and download the locked document.
Please Note: Adobe Acrobat tool is not a free service instead it offers different plans based on subscription. Its basic monthly plan starts at $24/ month. It is important to understand that the interface and advanced features might get you in trouble. Therefore, we recommend you choose the simpler option for converting the PDF into a protected document.

How to Make a PDF Secure Using SysTools PDF Protecting Tool

Investing in the Acrobat tool might hurt your pocket. Use SysTools PDF Lock Software, one of the advanced tools developed for Windows OS. This powerful and sophisticated tool supports all kinds of PDF protection or restrictions to eliminate unauthorized users from tampering with the document.

The prime feature of this pro utility includes the option to insert password protection or owner control over editing, text copying, and printing. Despite these functions, this smart software deals with strong encryption protection like AES 256 or 128 and make PDF read only document. In this way, you can secure the confidential PDF document from a data breach.

Here, it is important to know that this software is completely tested or highly reviewed by professionals. Hence, you can use this advanced tool to convert documents like financial reports, legal contracts, and more to locked files.

Free Download Purchase Now

Stepwise Guide to Convert PDF to Password Protected Document

  1. Install SysTools PDF protecting tool.
  2. Add Files” to upload the document.
    choose the add files option
  3. Pick the Change option to browse the path > Next.
    click on change option
  4. In the Apply Document Restriction > choose restrictions.
    select the necessary restrictions
  5. After applying the PDF protection > click on the Lock icon.

Concluding Words

In this how-to guide, we have discussed the 3 ways to convert PDF to locked PDF. By following any of these methods, you can secure your confidential document without any data loss or modification. Here, we suggest you choose the SysTools pro solution, it is a highly recommended and advanced way of converting the PDF document into a locked file. Moreover, this desktop-based solution is a cost-effective tool compared to Acrobat software. Using this tool, you can eliminate manual work and ensure data security with ease. So, download this robust software to share or manage the locked document.

  author

By Tej Pratap Shukla

A versatile technocrat, always in the search for new and interesting areas related to technology. Works on multiple technical problems faced by users frequently. Provides the user-friendly solutions to deal with numerous technical issues.