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Participant
Jul 31, 2018 12:12 PM UTC
Answered

Didnt set password, still my PDF file is asking for a password to open

I have several PDF files that I used to be able to open, but now, they are asking for a password. I did not create a password for any of these files. Has anyone encountered this problem before? If so, how do I resolve it? Thank you.

~graffiti
~graffitiCorrect answer
Legend
Jul 31, 2018 5:59 PM UTC

I've seen this recently and it was fixed in Reader using a patch. Make sure you have the very latest update.

In Reader use Help>Check for updates.

125 replies

Participant
Apr 22, 2022 2:40 PM UTC

I am having the same issues, files I have always opened now require a password. What did you find to remove this issue?

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Participant
Mar 23, 2022 6:15 PM UTC

I have the same problem. I created the files and did NOT apply a password. Sent them out for signature, now it wants a password the "author" created. They didn't create one, I didn't create one, and now my documents are basically worthless because Adobe applied a password nobody on earth knows.

 

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Participant
Mar 23, 2022 6:34 PM UTC
is this document in the trusted folder.? ( as configured in Adobe reader)
I had a similar problem using certificate encrypted pdf.
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Participant
Mar 23, 2022 7:07 PM UTC

I sent a document I drafted out for signature. I didn't do anything to encrypt it and I didn't assign a password. It wouldn't send to one of the three people. The others came back passworded with a note that "the author" assigned a password. Well, I didn't and the people signing it didn't. But, they can't resolve it apparently. They want access to my system, but I can't do that at the moment, and I don't know why they still have no solution to this. They can't go assigning passwords nobody knows or I lose access. I got around it by PDF printing the signature pages into separate files and then combining the original uncorrupted file with those. So, this whole password thing doesn't even really work in the end if I can do that, but thankful that I could. I'd still like to know how it happened because I didn't do it and I can't be getting locked out of my own documents.

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Participant
Mar 15, 2022 6:20 AM UTC

[abuse removed by moderator]

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Participant
Feb 20, 2022 3:21 PM UTC

It is beyond annoying.  Adobe Acrobat is almost worthless to me, as every document needs a password that I don't know.  The only workaround is to print the document and scan it myself.  A huge amount of unnecessary work. I really wonder why I paid for this program which does very little to help me in my business.  

 

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Legend
Feb 20, 2022 3:50 PM UTC

Where are these files from, Kathy?

And when does it ask you for a password - for example

- when you open it (so you can never see the file)

- after it is open for no obvious reason

- when you click EDIT 

- when you click something else

- some other time?

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Participant
Feb 20, 2022 4:22 PM UTC

Example-documents from Forms Simplicity, a real estate program for agent. The document opens but the password request is when 'edit' is requested. Thanks!




Thanks!!


​Be Safe, Be Strong, Be Kind, Be Well. We are all in this together.

Kathy McDowell, P.A.
[Moderator deleted private information. Please do not post private information like e-mails and phone numbers]
I will never send wire instructions via email. If an email with wire instructions appears to be from me, it is fraud. Be very cautious.

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Participant
Dec 21, 2021 7:53 PM UTC

It is good (or is it?) to know that I am not alone in this situation. However, given this is an ongoing problem for close to two years, this is not good. Have there been any updates as to this issue? A suitable work around would be appreciated while this is being "fixed."

Given that my annual subscription is about to be re-newed, I might reconsider given this issue.

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Participant
Dec 21, 2021 10:47 PM UTC

Take your files to a Mac, open in Preview, export as a PDF and the password will be removed!

Might not be the best work around, but it works!! 👍😎

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Participant
Jan 20, 2022 12:51 AM UTC

This does not work for me. I'm on a mac. I can export the pdf but the password issue remains. I also can't go to print- save as...it only allows me to save as PostScript. I've tried Preview. I'm beyond frustrated. 

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Participant
Dec 2, 2021 6:58 PM UTC

Adding another voice to the list of frustrated users. This issue was opened over 3 years ago and still no resolution.

 

PDFs that I've been able to edit and have never put a password on are suddenly requiring passwords. I can't merge files because they are password protected with these "ghost" passwords. Downloaded clean copies of forms and am still getting the same issue.

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Participant
Nov 11, 2021 3:06 PM UTC

This is still an ongoing problem. I have tons of old reports for work that we cannot combine or edit. This just started recently for us as we updated to the newest version of Adobe Acrobat Pro. The software we use to generate quality reports are all locked by a password. Old and new. The developer of the software has no idea how this is happening. This is definately an Adobe issue with no fix in sight. We've been reduced to printing out the reports and then scanning them back in to make a fresh digital file. It's ridiculous and wasteful. 

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Participant
Sep 8, 2021 11:51 AM UTC
Screenshot_2021-09-08-17-08-13-047_com-nextbillion-groww.jpg
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Participant
Jul 7, 2021 6:03 PM UTC

Yes.  It continues to happen...it's annoying.  When I need to edit the pdf file, I have to start over creating a new one.  My coworkers are experiencing the same issue.  Hopefully Adobe can fix this problem.

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Participant
Apr 15, 2021 10:57 PM UTC

hi,

 

I had the same problem,

what I did was; 'open the pdf' and then 'export as pdf' again now, I dont know why but now the program doesn't ask for a password anymore. maybe this helps. 🙂

 

 

 

 

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Participant
Apr 19, 2021 6:42 PM UTC

Hi,

He doesn't give me the possibility to "export as pdf"...I'm thinking to change for Foxit, she can do nothing with Acrobat because of this problem.

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Participant
Apr 20, 2021 5:17 PM UTC

Hi,

 

I work on mac and i opend the pdf in 'Preview' from mac, there i had the option to export to pdf again.  (this worked for me)

don't know anyting about windows, so can't help u 😞 if u work with that.

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