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A
Anonymous
September 16, 2009
Answered

Password Protect Numerous PDFs in a Batch

  • September 16, 2009
  • 5 replies
  • 45546 views

I have several PDFs I'd like to add passwords to but I do not want to combine them in to one file.

Is there a way to batch or run a script that would assign a password to all of the file individually in one fell swoop?

Thanks!

    Correct answer joyce244

    I met same problem and it was resolved.

    You can use the Action Wizard: Tools > Open Action Wizard > New Action.

    Choose tools to add: Move Protection > Encrypt and Save and Export> Saveto the right-hand panel.

    Choose Encrypt > Uncheck prompt user box > Click “Specify Settings”  and select “Password Security” in Document Security dialogue box > Check box  “Require a password > Input password.

    In this step, I will save encrypted pdf files to a new name. Choose Save > Click “Specify Settings” > In Output Options Box, 1. Select “Add to original files name”, Chose to add text BEFORE or AFTER the original file name. 2 Save File(s) As Adobe PDF > OK and name the action.

    Click this new action > Click "Add Files" to batch select files > Start > done

    I hope this helps.

     

    5 replies

    J
    joyce244
    New Participant
    February 25, 2021

    How to encrypt batch pdf files with different passwords?  

      Bernd Alheit
      Bernd Alheit
      Community Expert
      February 25, 2021

      Not possible with the Action Wizard.

      standard banko31014434
      standard banko31014434
      New Participant
      June 1, 2021

      Is it possible at all with Adobe Acrobat Pro or has it to be done with 3rd party software or coding ? 

      M
      Mark-in-Va
      Inspiring
      January 22, 2021

      If I want to use the same password for all the files, does this let me do that, without having to enter the password twice (second time to confirm) ?  I'd like to enter the password just one time (with the confirmation) and have Acrobat Pro DC process all 50+ files I have.

      I was going to send files by email individually to each person, having sent the one password to everyone using another email address, so there is no benefit to using different individual passwords for each file for my situation.

        J
        joyce244Correct answer
        New Participant
        February 25, 2021

        I met same problem and it was resolved.

        You can use the Action Wizard: Tools > Open Action Wizard > New Action.

        Choose tools to add: Move Protection > Encrypt and Save and Export> Saveto the right-hand panel.

        Choose Encrypt > Uncheck prompt user box > Click “Specify Settings”  and select “Password Security” in Document Security dialogue box > Check box  “Require a password > Input password.

        In this step, I will save encrypted pdf files to a new name. Choose Save > Click “Specify Settings” > In Output Options Box, 1. Select “Add to original files name”, Chose to add text BEFORE or AFTER the original file name. 2 Save File(s) As Adobe PDF > OK and name the action.

        Click this new action > Click "Add Files" to batch select files > Start > done

        I hope this helps.

         

          A
          artistic_idea5452
          New Participant
          March 3, 2025

          Thanks very much for those clear instructions. It's a shame that Action Wizard doesn't accommodate entering a prompt for a password for the action as it means making a new action for each different password.

           

           


          That worked perfectly!   Thank you!

           

          J
          Jessica5ECF
          New Participant
          January 20, 2021

          Can you do this in Adobe Acrobat Standard DC ? 

          Bernd Alheit
          Bernd Alheit
          Community Expert
          January 20, 2021

          No. The Action Wizard is not available in Acrobat Standard. 

          P
          PEI LIN0D44
          New Participant
          November 6, 2020

          Where do I find 'Advanced'?

          I am using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC version 2020, but I cannot find Advanced > Document Processing > Batch Processing menu item.

           

          Please help.

          try67
          try67
          Community Expert
          November 6, 2020

          In Acrobat DC Batch Processing has been replaced by the Action Wizard.

            Steven_Madwin
            Adobe Employee
            Steven_Madwin
            Adobe Employee
            September 16, 2009

            Hi Kim,

            The short answer is yes.

            Select the Advanced > Document Processing > Batch Processing menu item

            Click the New Sequence button on the Batch Sequences dialog

            Add a name (e.g. Password Sec) and then click the OK button on the New Sequence dialog

            Click the Select Command button on the Edit Batch Sequence dialog

            Scroll the listbox on the left until you find Security

            Highlight Security and then click the Add button

            Highlight Security in the right listbox and then click the Edit button

            Select Password Security from the Security Method drop-down list

            Assign the security settings you want to use and then click the OK button on the Password Security Settings dialog

            You will be asked to confirm the passwords that you've assigned

            Click the Close button on the Document Security dialog

            Click the OK button on the Edit Sequence dialog

            You are back to the Edit Batch Sequence dialog at this point and you've completed one of the three items. Here is where Batch is powerful. If you decided to run the command on a Selected Folder all you need to do is drop all of the unencrypted files into the folder you have selected and run the Batch Sequence. If you click the Output Options button you can assign new names to the files so you can keep the unencrypted original separate from the newly encrypted copy.

            I hope this helps,

            Steve

              A
              Anonymous
              September 17, 2009

              This is great news!!!

              I will be rounding up my customers files to get this done tomorrow. I'll post my results.

              Thank you, thank you!

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