How to Password Protect PDFs with Adobe Acrobat 2017

1. Open the PDF with Adobe Acrobat 2017
   If Adobe Acrobat is not your Default app for opening PDFs follow these instructions:

   1. Right-click the PDF

   2. Click Open with

   3. Select Adobe Acrobat 2017
      If you’d like to switch your default application for opening PDFs to Adobe Acrobat 2017 please follow steps 7-8 of these instructions: https://uwaterloo.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CWKB/pages/1744277386

      Open

      

2. Once you have the file open in Adobe Acrobat 2017 click File

3. Select Properties

4. Click the Security tab

5. In the Security Method drop-down, select Password Security

   Open

   

6. Depending on the document:

   • Check off “Require a password to open the document” if you only want a password prompted to open the PDF

   • Check off “Restrict editing and printing of the document. A password will be required in order to change these permission settings” if you do not want the recipient to be able to print or make any changes to the PDF

Note: You can check off both options and create 2 unique passwords

1. Type in a password in the “Document Open Password” field, ensure it is rated at least “Strong”

2. Click OK and save the document