Updated by: Junella & Stella Protecting sensitive PDF documents with a password ensures their confidentiality and guards against unauthorized access or manipulation. Adobe Acrobat offers an easy method to implement this security measure.Â
Once protected, the PDF can only be accessed by those with the correct password, providing peace of mind regarding the safety of your valuable information.
Password Protecting a PDF
Step 1: Open Adobe Acrobat.
Launch Adobe Acrobat on your computer. If you don't have it installed, you can download and install it from the Adobe website.

Step 2: Open the PDF File.
Click on the menu bar and select Open to locate and open the PDF file you want to password protect.

Step 3: Access Protection Tools.
Click on the Tools tab located at the top left of the window then choose Protect a PDF.

Step 4: Choose Protect with Password.
Click on Protect with Password. A dialog box will appear prompting you to set a password.

Step 5: Set the Password.
First, decide if you want to require the user to enter a password for Viewing or Editing then enter your desired password in the Type Password field and confirm it in the Re-type Password field.

Step 6: File is now Successfully Protected.
After clicking on the Apply button, your PDF file is now successfully protected from viewing or editing with password.

Step 7: Verify the Password Protection.
Close the PDF file and reopen it to verify that the password protection is working. You should be prompted to enter the password to view or edit the PDF.

Important Tips
Step 11: Plan or Premium Features Required.
Sometimes, adding protection with a password in Adobe Acrobat requires plan or premium features. If the option is not available in your version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, consider using third-party PDF protection tools or upgrading to Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Step 12: Keep Software Updated.
Ensure that the software you use to create, edit, and view PDF files, such as Adobe Acrobat, is kept up to date with the latest security patches and updates. Regularly check for updates and install them promptly to mitigate potential security vulnerabilities.