password protect multiple pdf's

Question

I am trying to password protect around 1000 pdf files and I can't find any useful article regarding this problem. I am using Adobe Acrobat XI. I tried it with Acrobat X and it worked,but when I try to create an action in Acrobat XI,it works only if I open each file individually. Is there any way I can apply this action to multiple files?

Adorobat · Accepted Answer

Hello,

So what is the answer? How did you add the same password to all the document in one step instead of for each file? Thanks!

Hi Mwieland,

Please follow below mentioned steps:

1- Create an action by going into Tools > Action Wizard > Create New Action.

2- Under Choose tools to add > click Protection > Encrypt > and click on + sign to add this to the right-hand panel (uncheck the box next to Prompt user).

3- Then click Save & Export > Save > and add it to right-hand panel. (you can change output options by clicking on specify settings)

4- Click Save and give action a name. ( for ex: Batch password).

5- Go to Action Wizard > Actions > Batch Password

6- Click on Add Files > select all the files you want to add password to and click Start.

Thank You,

Shivam

aTomician · Answer

Lots of confusion on this, understandably as it doesn't seem obvious. Here's a complete step by step solution:

Prerequisites:

I believe you'll need the paid for version of Adobe Acrobat for this - Adobe Acrobat Pro. Comes bundled with Creative Cloud and some other products.

Firstly open up Adobe Acrobat Pro (do not open a PDF file - if any files are open in the tabs at the top, close all of these)
You should be left with the "Home" screen which for me lists recent document and various tools and links.
Open up the "Tools" tab
Scroll right to the bottom of the tools list, find "Action Wizard" and open it up.
Action Wizard will open as a subpage under the "Tools" tab. Click on the "New Action" at the top
A popup window will open, with a list of available actions on the left and the current action steps on the right. Change the "Untitled" name if you want, this doesn't really matter
Expand the "Protection" section, and double click "Encrypt" to add it to the action steps on the right.
Next, expand the "Save and Export" section and double click on "Save to add it as a new step on the right.
This still won't do anything as we haven't configured any options within the action. So, click on Encrypt first in the Action steps, uncheck "Prompt User" and then open "Specify settings"
Change Security Method to "Password" and then a new window should open.
Here you can specify passwords to open or edit the document, along with several other encryption options.
Once you've sorted everything, click "OK". You'll get a warning dialogue about encryption support in third party apps, OK that, and then you'll need to confirm the passwords you have set.
Click "Close" on the popup window, and then expand the "Save" action and click on "Specify Settings"
The default values should be fine here - but change if you want. Then OK that window.
Then Save the action, and you'll get a prompt asking you to add a name and description. Call it something memorable and then "Save".
Now in your actions list, your new action should appear for you. To use it, click on it to open it up, and then add the files you want to change, and then click Start. The files may popup and flick about a bit, but give it a few minutes and it will sort this.
That should be it! You can check by trying to open or edit a PDF you've selected and ensureing it's all good!

Hope that helps!

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