Password Protect PDF

Subscribers to Adobe Acrobat Premium or Adobe Acrobat Pro DC can password protect PDFs by setting a document open password.

When you create a password for a PDF, note the following:

• The app creates a file copy named “(the file name)_protected” and saves that file to Document Cloud. It does not protect or change the original file.
• Actions which change the file are blocked on mobile devices, including Fill & Sign, commenting, and editing.
• You can use the restricted features with desktop Acrobat.
• You can remove the password with desktop Acrobat (you must know the original password).
• There is no separate password for edit. If a user can open a file, they can edit the file.

To password protect a file from within an open PDF or from any file list:

1. Tap

2. Tap

   

3. Enter a password and confirm it. Use only supported characters.

4. Tap Set Password.

   

Supported characters

When you create a password to password-protect a PDF, you must only use letters, numbers, and the supported characters listed below. Passwords with unsupported characters show an error dialog.

Supported characters: !, ", #, $, %, &, ', (, ), *, +, , -, ., /, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, :, ;, < , =, > , ?, @, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, [, \, ], ^, _, `, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z, {, |, }, ~\

Opening a protected file

To open a password protected file, you must know the password.

1. Open a protected file.

2. Enter the password.

3. Tap OK.