How to Edit Password Protected PDF

Elise Williams

2022-05-17 09:16:32 • Filed to: How-To-Windows • Proven solutions

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If you have worked with password-protected PDF files, there is no more access by unauthorized users and your sensitive/crucial documents are away from the wrong hands. However, you may need to edit protected PDF yourself. So you have to know how to edit password-protected documents. Fortunately, there are seamless and proper ways to do it. in this article, we shall take you through a complete guide on how to edit password protected PDF.

Part 1. Edit Protected PDF with Open Password

Wondershare PDFelement - PDF Editor is arguably the best PDF software available in the market. The program has an array of top-rated features that simplifies and make the way we deal with PDF files much efficient and full of fun. With PDFelement, users can create and convert PDF, edit, annotate, print, annotate, perform OCR, and share PDFs. Being affordable, easy to use, compatible, and equipped with a lot of features.

Step 1. Open PDF File

Navigate to the folder where you saved the password-protected PDF file that you want to edit. Once you locate the file, select it and right-click. From the right-click options, select “Open With” and choose PDFelement. Alternatively, you can launch PDFelement then click the “Open files” to browse for the target PDF file. Before the PDF file opens, you should see a “Password” pop up prompting you to enter the password. Enter the correct password and hit “OK” to open your PDF file.

Step 2. Edit PDF

With the PDF now opened, head to the “Edit” tab and then drag the edit slider at the top-right to enable document editing. You are now free to edit the password-protected document.

Part 2. Edit Protected PDF with Permission Password

Step 1. Enter Permission Password

When you have uploaded the PDF document, you will see a notification at the top that the document is password-protected and that you should provide the permission password to edit it. Enter the permission password in the “Password” dialog box and click “OK”.

Step 2. Remove Permission Password

Once you have entered the correct password, go to the “File” menu and select “Preferences” from the File sub-menu. On the “Properties” window, click the “Security” tab followed by “Permissions” to access the “Security” dialog box. Here, delete the existing password and uncheck the “Permission Password” checkbox. Hit “Save” then “Apply” to remove the permission password.

Step 3. Edit PDF

To edit your PDF, go to the toolbar and click the “Edit” tab. from the subsequent sub-menu, drag the “Edit” slider at the far right to activate the editing mode. You can now edit your PDF document as per your preferences.

Step 4. Save PDF

To save the changes you have made, go to the “File” menu and select the “Save” option.

Part 3. How to Edit Password Protected PDF on Mac

Method 1. Preview

Preview is the default PDF viewing application on macOS. This application can easily identify when a document is password protected, but sometimes it cannot determine when the file has reading, printing, or editing restrictions.

When opening a password-protected document, a message will appear asking you to enter the password to start reading or modifying.

Method 2. PDFelement

If conventional tools cannot identify that a password protects the document, try using specialized PDF management software such as PDFelement.

Once you open your document with PDFelement, you will see a window where you must enter the password to modify the document and if it is a document with restricted permissions; Password prompt windows will appear when you try to access these restricted features.

Part 4. How to Edit Secured PDF Online

There are situations in which, for one reason or another, you cannot install new applications on your workstation, and, therefore, the ideal option is an online solution. Fortunately, there are several online tools available with which you can remove passwords to download a fully editable version. Next, I will tell you about these tools.

Method 1: HiPDF

Step 1: Go to the HiPDF website

The first thing you should do is access the HiPDF website. Next, click on "All tools" and go to the "Unlock PDF" tool, or you can click on this link. (https://www.hipdf.com/unlock-pdf).

Step 2: Upload & Download

Now you must click on the central button "CHOOSE FILE" to upload your document. HiPDF will ask you to enter the document password to process the document when the file is ready. When the process is finished, a download button will appear.

Method 2: Smallpdf

Step 1: Go to the Smallpdf website

Go to the Smallpdf website and, in the "Tools" section, select the "Unlock PDF" tool or, if you wish, click on this link.

(https://smallpdf.com/unlock-pdf).

Step 2: Upload & Download

Click on the option "CHOOSE FILE," set the source location of your file, and wait for the file to be ready. Now you must check the box on the right side of the screen and enter the password for the document; When everything is prepared, you should click on "Unlock PDF." When Smallpdf finishes processing your file, a download link will appear.

Method 3: PDF2GO

Step 1: Go to the PDF2GO website

Go to the PDF2GO website, click on "All tools," and select the "Unlock PDF" tool, or you can also click on this link. (https://www.pdf2go.com/unlock-pdf).

Step 2: Upload & Download

Click on the option "CHOOSE FILE," set the source location of your file. When your file is ready, you will see a box where you can enter the password for the file. When you finish, click on "START." When PDF2GO finishes processing your file, a download link will appear.

Method 4: Online2pdf.com

Step 1: Go to the Online2pdf website

Go to the Online2pdf website, or you can also click on this link. (https://online2pdf.com/). Now, in the "Convert to" option, select the "PDF" option. Click on the "Select files" button, set your file's source path, and wait for it to be ready.

Step 2: Download

To finish, click on the second button that appears on the right side of your document's name and enter its password. Click on Convert and wait for Online2pdf to process your document when everything is ready. When this is done, a download link will appear.

Conclusion

One of the main advantages of a PDF document is that it can restrict specific permissions for reading, editing, or printing. Fortunately, there are multiple tools with which you can manage these types of documents and work with them anywhere; Especially mac users, thanks to applications like Preview or PDFelement.

Part 5. How Secure Is Microsoft Office's Password Protection

The Microsoft Office suite has password encryption tools. Any protection system that encrypts information is highly secure. Encrypting a file consists of dividing the file into tiny segments. Each segment is assigned an identifying number known as "Hash" and, subsequently, the password that the user enters as part of a formula designed to create chaos in the order of the segments that make up the file is used. For this reason, the only way to break this type of security is to try different combinations in an orderly manner. This process is very impractical because, with current computing power, it could take many years to crack the password (the more characters the password has, the exponentially more difficult it will be to break).

How to Password Protect an Office Document

Part 6. How to Password Protect an Office Document

Now that you know that security based on cryptography techniques is very secure, it is likely that you are interested in using the protection tools of the Microsoft Office suite. Next, I will show you how to protect your documents with Microsoft Office.

Step 1: Go to Encrypt with Password

Before starting, open your PDF file using any application of the Microsoft Office suite as a viewer and display the main options menu (File). Once there, go to the "Info" section, click on the "Protect Workbook" option and choose "Encrypt with Password."

Step 2: Set a Password

Now you will see a window where you must enter and confirm the password that you will use to encrypt the document. When you finish, click on "Ok."

How to Create a Password Protected PDF File

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Part 7. How to Create a Password Protected PDF File

Microsoft Office applications are not ideal for working with PDF files. It is possible to use Microsoft Office to protect them. Still, you should remember that once you have established password protection, the document format will change, depending on the application you use to view the document.

Instead, you can use specialized PDF management software such as PDFelement or, if you are a macOS user, you can use the Preview application. I will show you how to do it below.

Method 1: Preview

Step 1: Go to Export…

Before starting, make sure to open your PDF file using Preview. Now, display the "File" menu and select the option "Export ..."

Step 2: Set a Password

Now you will see a window where you can choose the export characteristics. Ensure you have the "Encrypt" option enabled and enter a password. When you're done, click "Save."

Method 2: PDFelement

Step 1: Use the Encrypt with Password tool

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To get started:

• Open your PDF file with PDFelement.
• Pull down the "File" menu and go to the "Protect" section.
• Once there, select the "Encrypt with Password" option.

Step 2: Set a Password

Now you will see a window where you can choose the protection features. You can set passwords to restrict reading, writing, and even printing processes.

Conclusion

A few years ago, password protecting files was not as straightforward as it is now. Fortunately, these days, password-protecting documents are straightforward, and encryption tools are often included in the editing applications you use daily, as is the case with Preview, Microsoft Office, and PDFelement. Just make a couple of clicks, and voila.

Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!

Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!

Buy PDFelement right now!

Buy PDFelement right now!

Elise Williams

chief Editor