How to Password Protect a PDF

Adobe is one of the most commonly used program suits, second only to MS Office. Aside from the magnificent capabilities of Photoshop and Fireworks, the fact that the Adobe Acrobat PDF format can be read by all devices in the form they were made is very useful. Sending a PDF has become standard for both individuals and companies.

As most of us have several PDF files that contain very sensitive data, including banking information, we need to know how to password protect these files, especially on devices that are accessed by multiple people.

What is a PDF file?

A PDF document appears the same on every PC, so you don’t need to worry about formatting issues confusing the recipient of your work. It preserves the original formatting of any document and protects it from editing. You can also add password protection to your PDF files.

 

Pros & Cons of Using PDF over Other Formats

The main advantage of a PDF is that it is so versatile and visible on all platforms. PDF viewers are included in all browsers and can be downloaded for free on all platforms in the form of Adobe Reader or similar programs.

But, PDFs have a significant problem that they can’t be edited easily and are harder to skim over with certain features like Control+Find.

Password Protection for PDF files

You can add password protection to your PDF documents. You can add a password to your PDF document by the following methods.

There are a few different methods you can use:

Adobe Acrobat Method

1. Open the Adobe Acrobat page and tap on the Get Started You will have to sign up for Adobe Acrobat. Adobe Acrobat Reader will be updated automatically. This update will unlock some high-end features of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

2. Sign in to your new Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. Now go to the File menu and access your desired document through

3. You will view your document on the screen. One more time tap on the File In the drop-down menu, tap on the option of Properties. From Properties, go to the Settings dialogue box.

4. Choose Password Security from the option list. In the newly opened dialogue box, enter the password. You also have to mark the Require a password to open the document And you are done.

If you want to learn more about Adobe Acrobat, you may want to pick up the Adobe Acrobat DC Classroom by Lisa Fridsma and Brie Gyncild that contains all kinds of neat tips and tricks on how you can take the most from this versatile program.

PDFMate Method

There is also a third-party method for password protecting your PDFs if you prefer not to sign up for Adobe Acrobat. You have to download PDFMate, a third party tool to add password protection to your document:

1. Download PDFMate Free PDF Merger from their official site. The download is free. Launch the PDFMate after installation.

2. Tap on the Add Files The button will be on the left side. Now, choose the document you want to protect.

3. You can view your PDF document in your added documents list. In the bottom, there will be three fields related to password protection. Fill them accordingly and add mark the boxes. These fields ask for the password and permission for your document.

4. Tap on the Build button to finish the process.

Password Protection in MacOS

You can add password protection in MacOS through Preview. Preview is a built-in application in MacOS. Follow these steps for password protection in MacOS:

1. Open the Preview application and tap on the File Open your document to be protected by the Open option.

2. After opening your document, open the Export dialogue box. In this dialogue box, you can add password protection by Encryption box in the bottom. Now mark the Encryption box and add a password for your document. You can also cross check your password protection.

You can also protect some specific features of your PDF document, including adding restrictions on the editing and printing of your document.