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 the Adobe Cloud Storage. It does not protect or change the original file.

  • Actions which change the file are blocked on Android 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.

  • Currently, Acrobat Reader mobile app does not support printing of password-protected PDFs.

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

  1. Tap overflowicon

  2. Tap protecticon

_images/protect.png

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

  2. Tap Set Password.

_images/setpassword.png

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, {, |, }, ~

Open a protected file

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

Note

There is no way to retrieve a forgotten password.

  1. Open a protected file.

  2. Enter the password.

  3. Tap OK.

_images/enterpassword.png

Forgotten Passwords

The password feature is designed to secure your docs against malicious attacks and unwanted viewing. For this reason, there is no way to retrieve a lost password. Note the following:

  • DC mobile product password protection works identically on the desktop.

  • It’s always a good idea to backup your password in a secure manner if you think you could forget it.

  • When you password protect a file, Acrobat Reader creates a new file. The original file is not password protected, and you can always retrieve that file from your device.