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How to Lock a PDF File With Two Passwords – Secure It Now

author
Published By Ashwani Tiwari
Raj Kumar
Approved By Raj Kumar
Published On February 7th, 2024
Reading Time 8 Minutes Reading
Category PDF Updates

Summary:- Follow this article to know the steps to lock PDF files and what kind of passwords are implemented, Find the working methods from here with the clear steps, and once you find a suitable method, secure your PDF with the desired method.

Once you start reading this article you will learn how to lock PDF file step by step with the easy method. Secure PDF maintains the integrity of the document. But if you didn’t, your PDF might change because everyone can change something like comment and highlight or print it.

PDF files can be sent through any medium and unsecured files can easily merge with any PDF, but if your PDF is locked you will easily get stressed free from the fear of losing its valuable information. You can lock PDF files from editing if you don’t want it. PDF can be also locked from opening, if you are sharing your PDF and you think some potential threats may able to remove restrictions from the PDF then Lock it with a user password so if someone tries to carve information from it, the PDF won’t be open. Let’s go and easily secure the PDF file with clear steps.

Table of Content

How to Lock PDF file with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Adobe considered as most used software program for editing and securing PDFs. Follow these steps to secure a PDF,

  1. Open your file in Adobe DC> Select File option from left corner> Properties.
    Select file options >click on properties
  2. Select “Security Method” then select “Password Security”.
    Select password security to lock PDF file
  3. Choose the type of password you want to restrict editing and printing or just restrict opening the document.
    Apply document open or permission password
  4. Now Enter a password, and confirm it.
    Enter document open password
  5. And finally, Save the document.Save it with password

How to Lock a PDF File With Alternative Ways

In this technical age cybercrime is a piece of cake where documents can be easily leaked or changed without your permission. users encrypt PDF files so that they can be accessed by intended recipients and not be changed by unwanted persons.

1st: Secure PDF File in Microsoft Word 

Word provides offers a password protection feature. Follow this guide to enable it,

  1. Open your document in Microsoft Word
    Open your file in Microsoft word
  2. Now select the  “File” and select the “Save As” option.Select file type as "PDF"
  3. Choose PDF in the options to save.
  4. Next you will see a pop-up window Just click on “More Options” and then select “Security Options.”
    Click on security options to Lock PDF file
  5. Choose the option  “Encrypt the document with a password” from it.
    Select option "encrypt with password" in options
  6. Enter a password, and confirm it.Enter a password to Lock PDF file
  7. Now Save the PDF. you will see that your file is locked with a password.your file is locked

2nd: How to Lock PDF File With PDF Lock Tool

  • You can use this Professional PDF Lock tool which is recommended in the market for protecting PDFs from printing because it gives you amazing features to lock PDFs like:-
  • Easily apply restrictions for Printing, Copying, Editing, and Extracting Pages
  • Restricts permissions for Filling and Commenting in PDF
  • Encrypts PDF file passwords with the latest encryption options including AES256 bit
  • Batch processing(multiple files) option is available to save time
  • Option to choose a destination
  • CSV format option is available

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Step 1: Run the software and then click Add File(s) or Add Folder option to add the PDF Files to the software.
Add files
Step 2: Next click on the Destination button. Then select the path or location to save the password-protected PDF
Select save location to find locked PDF file
Step 3: After this go to the Settings tab, and choose the Apply Document Restriction option.
Apply settings of document restrictions
Step 4: Once you are done with the applying restrictions. Then enter the Password to lock the PDF and apply the restrictions.
Add passwords to Lock PDF file
Step 5: You can also add a document open password. Just select the Apply Document Open Password option and Enter Password and also select between security types.
Select Encryption type to secure PDF file
Step 6: In the end, once you applied all the settings, hit the Lock button to secure the PDF file.
Finally get lock PDF file

3rd: Free Online Tools

  • Browse on web PDF to JPG converter and drag and drop or choose your file.
  • After adding the files find and hit  “Convert entire pages” then press the button and press “Choose the option”
  • Hold on the page to convert the document.
  • Then Click “Continue in JPG to PDF”
  • After that click on the “Convert”  button to process the conversion.
  • Here Download the PDF and switch to “Protect PDF” via the “tools” menu
  • Then drag or drop your file.
  • Then enter your password to secure the PDF and press “Encrypt PDF”
  • At the end click on “Download” to recover your protected PDF file.

Why You Need to Secure PDF File

Securing a PDF prevents the PDF from making changes later. like when you made embedded forms into the file for users to fill out but if the PDF is not locked, users could change the embedded forms on purpose. When you made a PDF according to your work criteria and worked hard on proofreading and succeeded it, but if you forget to put a password, maybe your PDF can be changed if someone has it. that’s why users should start to lock PDF files.

Read Also:- How to Remove Owner Password from PDF

  • Secure Files Can Maintain Your Document Contents
    Use PDF security features to secure your work. Once you apply security features your work is more secure and less likely to be altered.
  • Unauthorized Limit Access In Password-Protected PDF
    If you use to put a password on your PDF then you only allow people to access it this is a critical factor when you are writing down something confidential about you and your company.
  • PDF Copyright Protection In Secured PDF File
    Maybe there are laws protecting laws in copyright infringement but it takes a long time to catch the culprit and is expensive too. And you might also don’t want to take up your work as this easy so just go and protect it and start setting your projects off on the right foot by preventing your PDF
  • Secured PDF File Help In Remain The Integrity Of The Content
    In integrity, Your work does not change and remains accurate. so maintain the integrity and validity of the document by simply locking it.
  • Creating A Digital Signature Can Help In How to Lock A PDF File
    A digital signature indicates the protection of the document which is implied by the user personally and counts as a significant factor in business contracts.
  • PDF Compliance from GDPR for securing a PDF file
    Europe’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018, Is counts customers’ private information as a highly sensitive area and if anyone fails to comply with its regulations be it accidentally it will pose a risk with some serious fines.
  • How to Password Protect A PDF to Stop Unwanted PDF Sharing
    Anybody can share your document if they have access to it and potentially leak data on them and if the documents are confidential then this will be a big issue.
  • Lock PDF to Stop Unwanted PDF Printing
    Open email can easily scanned and sent to mail for printing.
  • Caching Prevention
    Users can use your databases with local caching but you can prevent it if you apply security on it.

Types of Passwords (Password Security Basics)

Creators can limit access to a PDF by setting passwords by restricting certain features such as manipulation or editing. Authors can’t prevent saving copies of a PDF but still, the copies have the same restrictions. Two types of passwords to lock PDF files,

1. First Is The Document Open Password

A Document Open password or user password requires a user to type a password to open the PDF so a pop-up on the open window appears with the password whenever you click to open.

2. The Second Is The Permissions Password

Permission password or master password is the same thing. While using a permission password, you can restrict printing, editing, and copying content in the PDF. Recipients don’t need any passwords to read a file.

Conclusion

You can lock PDF files by going through this article as it describes every method with concise steps to add a password to the PDF file. We have explored the best methods to lock your PDF file. Learned about why locking a PDF is an important factor. You can use the PDF Unlocker tool to unlock your PDF file and remove your password if you want to, work in a hassle-free environment according to your needs.

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