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How to Change the Security Settings on a PDF? 3 Best Ways

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Written By Tej Pratap Shukla
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh  
Published On November 29th, 2024
Reading Time 8 Minutes Reading

Security in PDF documents works like a protective shield, preventing unauthorized users from misleading or interacting with the document. Now, imagine: you need to update or fix the typos. Here, security becomes a concern stopping you from making the required changes. Now, you might be searching for how to change the security settings on a PDF to ensure better accessibility of the PDF content. Now, read this guide to learn the stepwise guide for changing the Adobe PDF file security without any hassle or data loss.

What is PDF File Security and What are Its Types?

PDF security commonly deals with access control. It is mainly used to prevent interaction or accessibility of the document. In this way, creators can ensure that only legitimate users can view or acquire the PDF content. It converts the document into a restricted file which benefits users to ensure the PDF remains unchanged or tamper-proof. Here are the common types of PDF file security:

  • Open Document Password: Some PDFs hold highly confidential data related to the organization’s financial reports, client records, contracts, etc. These documents require strong prohibitions like complex passwords. This kind of password security is commonly known as open document password or user-level protection.
  • Owner-Level PDF Permissions: Unlike passkey security, if the PDF document limits the actions, it refers to owner-level PDF security. It certainly benefits creators to control or impose restrictions on the document. Here are the common PDF permissions:

a) Printing Security: This PDF file security prevents users from taking the hard or printable copy of the PDF document. It allows creators to reduce the risk of distribution of physical copies of confidential data.

b) Content Editing Security: The edit protection ensures that PDF content remains unaltered and is secured from tampering. This security is mainly used on signed documents, legal contracts, and more.

c) Text Copying Security: PDF copy security stops users from repurposing and copying the content, images, or other necessary content from PDF files. In this way, you can prevent misuse and plagiarism of data.

This is an overview of PDF security and its types These robust security sometimes act like barriers when sharing or accessing the data with ease. Here, adjusting or changing the PDF security settings becomes essential to balance the workflow or better accessibility.

When Need for Changing the PDF Security Settings?

Document security is only required when it comes to protecting the sensitivity of the data. If the PDF loses its importance or needs updation, you need to change the security settings. After adjusting the document accessibility, you can ensure seamless PDF file management. Here are the common purposes to change security settings on PDF documents:

  • Quick Sharing of PDF Document: Changing the PDF security allows you to access or share the PDF without restriction. In this way, you can even share documents with personal or confidential information to legitimate users.
  • Ensure Necessary Updates: Adjusting the security on PDF helps you to improve team collaboration. With this, multiple users can update or correct the error within the document without asking for permission every time.
  • Archive PDF Document: If you want to archive the PDF for future reference. Here, changing the security enables you to save the document with ease. In this way, you don’t need to worry about handling the security password or permissions.

Overall, these are the reasons to adjust the PDF security settings. Now, let’s move to understand the methods for adjusting the document prohibition.

Quick Guide for How to Change the Security Settings on a PDF?

  1. Install the SysTools PDF Unlocker or security removal.
  2. Add Files” or “Add Folders” to upload files.
  3. Save” feature and then, click on the Change option.
  4. Lastly, tab Unlock to change document security settings.

Learn How to Change the Security Settings on a PDF – 3 Simple Ways

If you want to change PDF security settings just to ensure better accessibility of the document, here are the 3 go-to methods. Using these approaches, you can open, view, and edit the PDF after adjusting the document. Moreover, it adds convenience in managing the PDF document without security.

Here’s how to change PDF security settings:

1. Online PDF Security Removing Tools
2. Adobe Acrobat Tool to Adjust PDF Security
3. SysTools PDF Security Settings Removal

Now, let’s closely understand these methods one after another.

How to Change Document Security Settings in PDF Using Online PDF Security Removing Tools

If you have questions like how to change the security settings on a PDF, use online PDF security setting remover tools. It is one of the best and go-to choices for professionals to manage PDFs with no restrictions. Some of the popular solutions are Smallpdf, PDF2go, PDF Candy, etc. These tools are freeware allowing you to adjust the PDF security with ease.

Here are the guide for how to modify security settings PDF via online tools:

  1. On your PC, visit any of these tools.
  2. Find “Choose Files” option to upload PDFs.
  3. Now, click on the Unlock icon to change security.

Sounds easy! Fortunately, it is a simple and fast way to change document security. However, using these tools might impact document integrity. Now, take a closer look at the limitations of online PDF security removing tools.

Please Note: Online PDF services increase the potential risk of data loss. Additionally, it upholds formatting errors that impact integrity and PDF elements. Additionally, these tools might steal confidential data as strong data protection compliance is absent. So, use these free online services carefully when changing the security in PDF.

How to Change PDF Security Settings With Adobe Acrobat Tool

Compared to online services, Adobe Acrobat is a more reliable and trusted solution to change document security settings. Moreover, this advanced and all-in-one utility deals with all kinds of PDF security such as password and owner restrictions for editing, copying, and document printing.

Additionally, this creative tool has a feature-rich function to handle document security. Now, let’s learn how to change the security settings on a PDF using the Adobe Acrobat tool:

  1. Install Adobe Acrobat on your computer (Win & Mac OS).
  2. Tools” option and then, move to Protect > Encrypt.
  3. Choose Security and here, select No Security.
  4. Now, enter the document passkey > press OK.

These four simple steps look simple however, they hold major complications. Therefore, follow the stepwise guide carefully.

Remember: Acrobat services come with a paid plan i.e. monthly and annual. The pricing of the tool starts at $19.99/mo. Moreover, it is highly costly software and has a complicated interface which might annoy many novice or professional users. So, invest in this pro software after comparing the pricing with other tools.

How to Change Security Settings on PDF – Try SysTools PDF Security Settings Removal

If you’re still searching for how to change document security settings in PDF, consider SysTools PDF Security Settings Removal, designed for Windows or Mac OS. This is a powerful and robust software that allows you to remove PDF restrictions from document. Moreover, this tool efficiently supports all PDF file security.

Moreover, the key features of this tool are the removal of PDF passwords and permissions. Some of the common owner-level security includes text copying, printing, and editing of the PDF. Most importantly, this sophisticated tool is capable of changing robust PDF security settings like AES-256 and 128. Here are the other prime features of this tool:

  • Change PDF security settings in bulk mode.
  • Adjust PDF password security or owner protection.
  • Preserve PDF elements and formatting in the original format.
  • Congruent with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Guide for How to Change the Security Settings on a PDF

  1. Run SysTools PDF security settings removal on your PC.
  2. From the dual feature: Add Files/ Folders > choose any.
    choose the add files option
  3. Now, click on the Save radio icon > Change option.
    click on save and then, change
  4. Lastly, tab on the Unlock button to change PDF security.

FAQs on Change Security Settings on PDF

Q. How do I change the security setting on my PDF?
To change document security settings on PDF, use the SysTools PDF file security settings removal tool. It is the ultimate choice for adjusting the strong security of PDF documents. Moreover, this software has a built-in feature to handle the PDF meta properties and structure. Additionally, this tool is a cost-effective and reliable option for changing PDF security.

Q. How do I check PDF security settings?
To check the PDF security settings, you can use the Adobe Acrobat tool. This software allows you to review the PDF security at once. Here are the steps to do so:

  1. Open Acrobat.
  2. Go to Document Properties > tab Security.
  3. Now, check the Document Protection Summary.
  4. In this way, you can check the PDF security.

Wrap Up!

In this stepwise guide, we have discussed how to change the security settings on a PDF. By following the above 3 methods, you can modify the PDF security without any data loss. However, we recommend you choose SysTools PDF security settings removal, it is a standalone and trusted solution. Using this pro utility, you can change the security in your PDF file with ease.

  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.