How to Password Protect a PDF File to Secure Document?
PDFs are more likely to become a digital or business format, widely used for sharing sensitive information such as financial statements, legal contracts, payment records, etc. Here, the growing number of data attacks or breaches is shaping a grave concern for individuals and professionals. Many of you might look for how to password protect PDF documents to make PDF read only for everyone. Creating a protected PDF provides access to authorised viewers only.
This comprehensive guide covers everything, whether you’re a business worker, researcher, or professional. So, let’s discover why and how to password protect a PDF file.
Can I Password Protect PDF Files?
Yes, professionals can simply password protect PDFs. Moreover, setting a password on a document is becoming a need of the hour. It is helpful for secure management or distribution of PDFs over online platforms.
Plus, malicious entities are constantly lurking in this hyper-connected world. The digital network deeply scans your documents; sharing them unprotected can widen the risk of theft and loss of data.
Hence, it is suggested to convert PDF to locked PDF to protect documents like financial statements, bank PDFs, legal files, and more. It prevents direct access and makes your content unreadable for unauthorized users. In this way, no one can alter your data without legitimate permission. Now, let’s move to understand the types of protection.
What is Password Protection in PDF?
PDF password protection is mainly used to safeguard sensitive documents from violation. Many industries or professionals like business corporations, healthcare, government, etc, utilize these protections to stop unauthorized actions. Here are the common types of PDF password protection for ensuring document security:
- Open PDF Password (User Level Password):- This type of protection needs a correct passkey to access the document. In the absence of a password, you can’t open or view the content; it ensures that viewers with legitimate passwords can open the document without making any further changes.
- Owner Level Restriction:- Despite password protection, creators can impose necessary prohibitions like editing, text copying, commenting, printing, and annotations. In this way, you can ensure the document remains unchanged.
Why Use PDF Password Protection?
In a world where everyone desires data over money, protecting PDFs is no longer optional. Whether you’re sending transaction history, client feedback, invoices, etc., setting the password protection on the document is necessary. This small preventive step can save you from falling into a big trap.
Here are the typical benefits of password protecting the PDF files:
- Safeguard Content: PDF password protection meticulously protects the confidentiality of the document. In this way, the creator can share the data to legitimate users with data protection or security.
- Restrict Specific Actions: Document creators put specific prohibitions on PDFs. It includes limited access, such as modifying, content copying, printing pages, and adding text to PDF documents.
- Meet with Data Protection Compliance: An organisation which handles confidential data needs to meet with data protection compliance, such as GDPR or HIPAA. Here, using the types of password protect a PDF file enables users to secure data.
- Preventing Malicious/ Suspicious Intent: Without applying password protection, hackers can extract any information using online tools or advanced scripts. After setting the protection, you can stop malicious actors from altering data. So, ensure the security of your PDFs from intruders.
Overall, PDF password protection is considered a crucial tactic to safeguard secret information. Now, let’s move on to understand how to protect a PDF file with password to prevent data modification.
Guide for How to Password Protect a PDF File Without Acrobat
- Run SysTools PDF Lock Software on your Win OS.
- From “Add Files” or “Add Folders” > choose any.
- “Change” feature to browse the location of file > Next.
- In the Apply Document Open Password > Create password.
- After this, confirm the passkey > press the Lock icon.
How to Password Protect PDF File – 5 Top Methods
Whether you’re a Windows or macOS user, we will provide methods for both. If you’re wondering how to password protect a PDF file, here are the 5 effective techniques you should know. Using these methods, you can protect PDF document for different platforms. Additionally, it facilitates users to share confidential documents with legitimate users while protecting them.
Now, follow the guide for how to create password protected PDF:
1. Password Protected PDF File with Word
2. Mac Preview for Protecting PDF on macOS
3. Online PDF Protection Tool
4. Adobe Acrobat to Password Protect PDF
5. SysTools PDF Pro Software – The Ultimate Way
Now, let’s understand these methods in detail.
#1 How to Protect a PDF File with Password With Office Word
Wondering how to create a password protected PDF file, consider Office products like Microsoft Word. It is a simple and handy way to allow password security on PDF documents. Here, it is important to understand that this is not a standalone or dedicated solution for imposing password protection on any sensitive document. Here are the steps for how to password protect a PDF file using Microsoft Word:
- Open the required PDF > Open With > Word.
- Under Review > pick Restrict Editing.
- Tab “Allow only this type of editing in the document” > pick No security.
- After this, add Password > tab Yes, start enforcing protection.
- Lastly, go to File and then, Save As > PDF file.
Looks simple! Unfortunately, it is not an ideal way to protect the content of PDF files. Here are the other limitations of this method.
#2 How to Make PDF Password Protected on Mac – Use Mac Preview
Struggling with how to create password protected PDF on Mac, use the built-in application, i.e., Preview. This free and fast performing application can password-protect the PDF files without installing Adobe Acrobat. Now, follow the steps for how to password protect PDF on macOS using Preview App:
- Start with accessing the PDF in Mac Preview.
- From the top Menu > select feature > File.
- Use the button, i.e. Export > tap “Encrypt“.
- Now, create a complex password > re-enter it.
- Lastly, save a new file > press the Save button.
#3 How to Password Protect PDF File With Online Tools
Microsoft Word certainly fails when protecting the PDF document. Instead, online password-protected PDF tools such as iLovePDF, Smallpdf, etc. These services are comparatively compatible and completely free. Using these tools, you can add complex passwords and secure your document from any digital vulnerabilities. Here is the stepwise guide for how to protect a PDF file with password:
- On your PC, search for any of these online services.
- “Add Files” > add the document from the computer.
- In the display bar, set the strong passkey > Protect PDF.
- Lastly, tab on download protected PDFs.
Online tools add convenience in protecting sensitive documents with a passkey. However, there are major limitations behind using these services to create password protected PDF file. Now, let’s take a look below.
#4 How to Create a Password Protected PDF File Using Adobe Acrobat
If you’re seeking how to protect a PDF file with a password, consider Adobe Acrobat, one of the standalone software programs for protecting documents. This amazing tool is capable of creating strong password protection on PDFs. Additionally, you can enable owner-level permissions like editing, content copying, and printing of pages. In this way, you can handle documents with protection. Here are the steps to follow for protecting PDFs with a password using Acrobat:
- Install the Adobe Acrobat on your Win & Mac operating system.
- Find Properties and look for Security > enable Password Security.
- After this, create a complex password > enter OK.
- Now, download the password protected document.
#5 How to Create Password Protected PDF – Try SysTools PDF Pro Tool
Searching for how to password protect PDF file without Acrobat, install SysTools PDF Protecting solution. It is the best all-in-one and powerful software solution that supports all kinds of PDF protection, including password and owner limitations. It leverages the document creator to create a strong and complex passkey to secure the document. Additionally, you can add document permissions like editing, copying, and printing to control access.
Some of the prime features of this robust tool include secure document integrity and compliance with data protection standards. Here are the other highlights of this pro software:
- Supports advanced PDF password protection.
- Allows you to add PDF encryption like 256-AES.
- Capable of perverse all the PDF formatting.
- It is a work-saving and tested software solution.
Guide for How to Password Protect a PDF File With Password
- Install the SysTools suggested advanced tool.
- Go to “Add Files” or “Add Folders” to browse files.
- Under Change > choose the location of file > Next.
- Find “Apply Document Open Password” > Enter Password.
- After this, confirm the passkey > tab Lock button.
Things to Always Remember:
- Please keep your password complex, and don’t simplify it like Name1234.
- Make a document backup before setting the password on the PDF file.
- Ensure that the PDF is shared with the rightful users to limit access.
FAQs on How to Create a Password Protected PDF?
Q. Can I password protect an existing PDF files?
Yes, you can protect your existing PDF document with protection, especially a password. Use online, Adobe Acrobat, and even SysTools Pro software to safeguard sensitive data with a password.
Q. How to password protect PDF free?
To protect PDF documents, visit free online PDF websites like Smallpdf, PDF24 Tools, iLovePDF, Sejda Tools, etc. These online platforms support batch processing to protect files. With simple drag & drop, you can download the protected PDF without loss.
Wrap Up!
In this guide, we have shared 5 ways to password protect a PDF file. By following these methods, you can secure the document with a strong password, preventing unauthorized access. Here, we recommend you choose the SysTools PDF file protecting tool for protecting the document with a password in batch mode. It is secure and highly reviewed software for handling PDFs with protection.