3 Ways to Password Protect a PDF File on Windows and Mac

By ChesterUpdated on December 17, 2022

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PDF can easily save all document information in a digital picture and it allows for basic viewing, browsing, printing, forwarding, as well as editing. It is a common document format that everyone will use ultimately. Nowadays, the question “how to password protect a PDF file?” is a universal topic. PDF, as a file we commonly use, which can’t be excluded to encrypt certainly. So how to password a PDF file? Here are 3 most excellent third-party tools we sort out in the market for you to password protect a PDF file. You would be like.

Contents

Method 1: Password Protect a PDF File via Adobe Acrobat Pro on (Windows and Mac)

Adobe Acrobat pro is a popular PDF editor program of Adobe so that a lot of computers install it. Adobe Acrobat Pro has a strong feature to handle the PDF format, including the ability to create PDF file, edit PDF file, share PDF file and password protect the PDF file, etc. And it is available as Document Cloud or DC versions for cloud collaboration. The password protect progress of Adobe Acrobat Pro is below.

Step 1. At first, open a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro which is does not be protect. And click on the “tool” which is at the top and in the toolbar.

Step 2. Under this condition, click on “Protect”, and click on “Encrypt”, then, click on “Encrypt with Password”

Step 3. Now, you can see a notice, asking you whether to change the security of the PDF file. Click on “Yes” if you see it.

Step 4. In this part, you need to set a password to protect you PDF file. Then everyone want to open the PDF file is needed to enter the right password. At last, click on “OK”, the PDF file can be encrypted.

Method 2: Password Protect PDF Document via PDFElement (Windows and Mac)

PDFElement can provide a series of features, working in edition, managing the page, creating and writing forms, most of all, the security. What is more, PDFElement brings a convenient using experience for users with its slicker user interface, intuitive tool menus, better layout management when editing, etc. In many aspects, PDFElement has a better performance than the products of Adobe, even in the price. The PDFElement is more economy than the products of Adobe. See how it works.

Step 1. Download and install the PDFElement program. Then, click on the “Open File” on the main page.

Step 2. You can see the “Protect” on the top of the window. Click on it, some options are seen in right below of a ribbon toolbar. Click on the “Password” option, and a box will be opened.

Step 3. In the box, you need to tick the checkbox and input a same password in two times and click on “OK”. Finally, your PDF file can be well encrypted.

Method 3: Password Protect PDF File via UkeySoft File Lock (Windows)

In this part, we recommend another way for you. With this way, you can get more for less. UkeySoft File Lock is an effective and reliable tool to password protect your digital data. It not only can hide or lock your file and folder in local disk, but also can encrypt a whole disk. Then, people can’t view, read, delete or rename your file, folder, and disk without password except you. Unless you unlock the encrypted file or folder for the public. In addition, UkeySoft File Lock can monitor your file and folder when they are changing. Plus, using the UkeySoft File Lock is very easy. Therefore, I strongly advise you to use it.

Ukeysoft File Lock can password protect PDF, word, excel, powerpoint and other types of documents. Once you password protect the PDF file, anyone can’t access it without a password. Then, your important information in the PDF file can be safe and secure even the hackers and malware attacks.

Amazing feature

• Lock/hide your file and folder with strong ability
• Encrypt your enter disk safely
• Force delete file and folder with shredder
• Monitor file and folder when they are changing

Please follow the easy steps.

Part 1: How to Lock PDF File?

Step 1. Install and launch UkeySoft File Lock program on your Windows PC
Start to password protect your PDF file, you need to download the UkeySoft File Lock and install it in your computer. Then launch it enter the initial password “123456” and click on “OK”. If you want to change the initial password, you need to upgrade the software.

Step 2. Select Locking File feature.
In the screen, you need to see the left side and select ”Locking File” under the local disk. Then, click on “Lock File” in the right menu.

Step 3. Add PDF File to Encrypt
Now a local disk is opened. In this time, you can select a PDF file you need to encrypt, and click on “OK”. You will see the PDF file you selected in the locking list. Well done, your PDF file is password protected greatly.

If you don’t want to encrypt your PDF files in the in future, you can follow these steps to unlock them.

Part 2: How to Unlock PDF File?

Step 1. Run on the UkeySoft File Lock
Run on the UkeySoft File Lock and enter your password. You can see the locking PDF files are in the center of window.

Step 2. Select PDF File to Unlock.
After, selected the PDF file you don’t want to password protect in the locking list and click on ”Unlock” button in the right menu to unlock the PDF file.

Final talk

For the Mac user, you can choose Adobe Acrobat Pro and PDFElement to password protect your PDF files. For Windows user, these 3 ways above can work for you. Especially, we strongly recommend UkeySoft File Lock. If you don’t know how to password protect a PDF file, you can read this post and figure it out. We are glad to help you in file security issues.