4 Ways for How to Lock Editable PDF Form from Editing
In the information-driven world, protecting editable documents like fillable PDF forms becomes challenging for professionals. The chances of tampering and destroying the information are quite common as is the growing number of lurking threats. Moreover, one wrong attempt at data breach carries bad consequences leading to loss of credibility and customer trust. Here, you must be wondering how to lock editable PDF to ensure data protection and prevent unwanted editing of form fields.
Now, read this guide to learn the techniques for enabling security as a preventive step for data protection and better handling of sensitive information.
What are Editable or Fillable PDF Forms?
Editable PDF forms are commonly considered interactive documents, mainly used to add inputs from multiple users e.g. surveys, contracts, or questionnaires. This wide range of data is utilized for a research paper, especially in deciding on some policy. These fillable forms consist of fields, checkboxes, drop-down menus, text boxes, radio buttons, etc.
Moreover, these PDF forms are easy to customize, allowing users to edit the document effortlessly. Hence, these documents are a convenient way to organize the data collection in a standard PDF format. Now, leaving the editable PDF forms unprotected perhaps opens the doors for vulnerabilities. It highlights the need to protect the Adobe PDF fillable form with security. Let’s dive down to understand the reasons to lock fillable PDF form.
Why Lock PDF Form from Editing?
Editable or fillable PDFs are mainly used for collecting data from different sectors such as professional, academic research, surveys, and more. Since these documents contain raw and sensitive information, unwanted modification can result in a loss of the data originality which heightens the risk of data compromise.
Fortunately, locking the fillable field of PDF form from editing stops the viewers from modifying the data. Here are the common reasons to lock PDF form from editing:
- Stop Accidental Editing: Editable PDF form encourages accidental and intentional modification of confidential documents leading to damage of information. Here, restricting the fillable fields prevents unauthorized changes.
- Follow the Data Compliance and Standards: Various industries like legal, commercial, government authorities, etc, need to meet data compliance and regulatory standards. Here, locking the editable PDF form helps to adhere to these regulations.
- Prevent Data Vulnerability: Editable PDF forms hold various information like financial, personal, and more. Restricting the form fields stops malicious actors from embedding suspicious and harmful content in the document.
Overall, these are the common benefits to lock fillable fields in PDF files. The lock security on editable forms helps to secure the content fields and structure while minimizing the risk of data alteration. Now, let’s jump to know how to lock fillable fields in PDF documents.
Quick Guide for How to Lock Editable PDF
- Download and Install SysTools PDF Lock Software.
- Choose “Add Files” to upload the fillable form.
- “Change” to browse and save the location of the file > Next.
- Go to “Apply Document Restrictions” > allow protection.
- Under “Apply Open Password” > use the strong lock key.
- Lastly, tab on the Lock icon to protect fillable form.
How to Lock a Fillable PDF from Editing – 4 Best Ways
In the following section, we will share the ways for how to lock fillable PDF. By using these methods, you can add necessary lock security to ensure data protection from unauthorized changes on the form fields. Now, let’s move down to learn the simple yet effective techniques for how to protect a fillable PDF form:
1. Online PDF Fillable Locking Tool
2. Adobe Acrobat to Lock PDF Form Fields
3. Mac Preview to Protect the Editable PDF Form
4. SysTools PDF Locking Tool to Secure Fillable Form
Now, let’s closely understand these methods.
How to Lock Editable PDF Using Free Online PDF Tools
If you’re wondering how to lock a fillable PDF from editing, try the free online PDF form locking tool to impose the lock security. These are versatile and independent services for protecting PDF forms from editing and content copying. Some of the popular online tools include iLovePDF, Smallpdf, PDF2go, PDF24Tools, etc. Using these solutions, you can add a strong lock on your editable PDF that restricts viewers from tampering with the information.
Here is the stepwise guide for how to protect a fillable PDF form:
- Open any of these free online tools.
- “Select PDF File” to upload the fillable form.
- Under the password > write the custom lock key.
- Choose the “Lock” icon to add lock on the PDF form.
These steps help to lock fillable PDF documents. However, using this online service heightens the opportunities for data loss and compromise. So, before using the freeware solutions, take a look at its limitations.
How to Lock an Editable PDF from Editing Using Adobe Acrobat
If you’re searching for how to lock editable PDF, use the Adobe Acrobat tool — it is a standalone and advanced tool for safeguarding the fillable PDF form from editing, content copying, etc. Using this creative tool, you can impose the strong lock security and other owner-level document restrictions like content modification, copying, and printing.
With this, you can share your editable PDF form with robust security. Now, follow the steps for how to lock fillable fields in PDF using the Acrobat tool:
- Open the Adobe Acrobat > add the fillable document.
- Go to Properties > choose Security > Password Security.
- Now, customize your document passkey > press OK.
- Lastly, download the protected PDF fillable form.
How to Lock a Fillable PDF from Editing With Mac Preview
To lock fillable PDF form, you can use Mac Preview another way to protect the editable fields. Moreover, this is a dedicated and built-in tool for Mac OS users, allowing them to open and secure the document at once. Now, read the steps for how to lock editable fields in PDF form:
- Open PDF form with Mac Preview.
- Tab File > choose Export as PDF.
- Go to Encrypt > enter the password > re-enter it.
- Lastly, browse the saving location and get the locked PDF form.
How to Lock Fillable Fields in PDF Form – SysTools PDF Locking Tool
Compared to Adobe and other tools, if you’re looking for a secure solution, count SysTools PDF Locking Tool — one of the premium and advanced software for protecting the PDF fillable form fields from tampering and modification. This amazing software is designed to support all the different types of PDF protection including password and owner permissions.
Some of the key features of this tool are lock PDF with strong encryption, password, and restrictions like editing, text copying, and printing. Additionally, it allows you to lock your fillable PDFs in bulk mode. Besides this, it helps to preserve the PDF elements and form formatting in the original format.
So, download this robust tool to lock the PDF form field from editing. Now, move down to learn the workings of this professional and cost-effective software solution.
Steps for How to Lock Editable Fields in PDF
- Download the SysTools PDF form locking tool.
- Find “Add Files” to add all the PDF forms.
- “Change” to change the location of the resultant file.
- Go to “Apply Open Document Password” > set lock key.
- Now, re-enter the password > press the Lock button.
Also, read steps to make PDF read only.
Concluding Words
In this how-to guide, we have shared 4 effective ways for how to lock editable PDF forms. Using these methods, you can impose necessary restrictions and lock security on your fillable PDF document. Moreover, these protections comply with data security laws and standards. Here, we suggest you choose the SysTools PDF form locking tool. It is a trustworthy and highly reviewed software for safeguarding PDF form checkboxes and content from any misuse and tampering.