Folks ship PDFs for private and work-related causes on a regular basis. Much more incessantly, PDFs are saved in shared folders on iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, and so on.
Storing and sending PDFs on-line is straightforward and accessible for everybody, whatever the gadget and platform they use. However this additionally may very well be an issue — think about in case your PDF that anybody may entry comprises some delicate data (private or enterprise) that’s not for everybody to see?
One of the simplest ways to keep away from leaking personal data out of your PDFs is to discover ways to password defend PDF paperwork, in order that solely the sender and the recipient would be capable of open them. The excellent news is it’s not that tough to do — let’s see how.
What are your PDF safety choices?
There are three safety choices you’ll be able to discover if you wish to lock PDFs with a password:
- Require a password to print a PDF. The least restrictive possibility that wouldn’t actually have an effect on most customers. You may see it incessantly getting used on varieties.
- Require a password to repeat data. A preferred strategy with copyrighted works, akin to books, magazines, and so on.
- Require a password to open the doc. Essentially the most restrictive option to password defend PDFs but in addition probably the most safe one.
Not all of the apps are going to offer you these three choices. However, in actuality, you’re going to be utilizing the third one to encrypt PDFs probably the most.
One of the simplest ways to password-protect a PDF on Mac
You may shortly and simply add password to PDFs if in case you have an expert editor at hand, akin to Nitro PDF Professional.
Nitro PDF Professional can assist you view and edit virtually any PDF file on the market. In just a few clicks, you’ll be able to merge paperwork, convert them to different codecs, flip scans into editable textual content, fill out varieties, set a password for opening the PDF, and way more.
So if you wish to encrypt PDF with a password, Nitro PDF Professional has bought your again:
- Open any PDF doc in Nitro PDF Professional
- Go to File ➙ Print… (Command + P)
- Click on PDF
- Choose Safety Choices…
- Examine the encryption possibility that works greatest for you
- Create a brand new password and confirm it
- Click on OK
Tips on how to password-protect a PDF in Preview
In the event you don’t have entry to pro-level instruments like Nitro PDF Professional, it’s additionally doable to set a PDF password with a Mac native app like Preview.
Right here’s the best way to encrypt a PDF with Preview:
- Open your doc with Preview
- Go to File ➙ Print… (Command + P)
- Click on on PDF ➙ Safety Choices…
- Examine whether or not you wish to defend the doc in opposition to opening, copying, or printing
- Create a brand new password and re-enter it once more
- Click on OK
With so many passwords being created, it is likely to be exhausting to maintain monitor of all of them whereas storing them in a protected place. Since placing a Publish-it observe in your monitoring might be not the most effective thought, think about using a password supervisor like Secrets and techniques.
Secrets and techniques is an easy-to-use and easy app for maintaining your passwords, in addition to different delicate data (e.g. bank cards), protected and distinctive. The app itself is constructed with industry-standard PGP encryption however makes accessing passwords intuitive by means of browser integrations that routinely fill out your data.
So be certain to generate and save your password PDF keys in Secrets and techniques to maintain all of your information safe.
Tips on how to password defend a PDF on-line without spending a dime
As you’ll be able to think about, apps should not the one option to defend PDF with password — there are on-line choices as nicely.
One of many go-to utilities if you wish to set proprietor password for a PDF is Adobe. Right here’s the best way to use it to alter password-protection choices:
- Go to Adobe’s on-line PDF convertor web page
- Choose a file to add ➙ Add
- Set a password, then affirm it
- Click on “Set password”
You may discover that you just don’t want to pick your degree of safety when utilizing Adobe’s service. It’s because it routinely restricts PDF viewing. To limit your PDFs in different methods, akin to printing or copying, you might want to have a paid subscription to Adobe Acrobat Professional.
Tips on how to create password-protected PDFs in Microsoft Workplace
In the event you’re largely engaged on paperwork utilizing Microsoft 365 apps, you’ll be able to select to guard and encrypt PDFs with a password there as nicely.
The overall circulation is as follows:
- Open your doc (textual content, spreadsheet, presentation) in Microsoft 365
- Go to File ➙ Data ➙ Defend Doc
- Choose Encrypt with Password
- Set the password and reserve it in Secrets and techniques (or one other password supervisor)
If you wish to add password to PDFs particularly, then export your doc as a PDF first, after which use one of many choices above to set a password for it.
You may see now that defending your PDF from prying eyes doesn’t must be tough. Actually, anybody can password-protect a PDF on Mac with Nitro PDF Professional in seconds. Alternatively, Preview, Microsoft 365 apps, and Adobe on-line are additionally viable choices. However don’t neglect to save lots of these passwords in Secrets and techniques!
Slightly bonus to wrap issues up? Use Nitro PDF Professional and Secrets and techniques free for a full week with the trial of Setapp, a platform with greater than 230 excellent apps for Mac and iOS throughout all possible classes. Strive each Setapp app without charge and discover true keepers to enhance your productiveness.
