Password Protect Numerous PDFs in a Batch

[Guest]

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!

[Steven_Madwin · Accepted solution]

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

[Steven_Madwin · Accepted solution]

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

[Guest]

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!

[PEI LIN0D44]

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]

In Acrobat DC Batch Processing has been replaced by the Action Wizard.

[Jessica5ECF]

Can you do this in Adobe Acrobat Standard DC ? 

[Bernd Alheit]

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

[Mark-in-Va]

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.

[joyce244 · Accepted solution]

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.

[Scrambledeggs]

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.

[artistic_idea5452]

That worked perfectly!   Thank you!

[joyce244]

How to encrypt batch pdf files with different passwords?  

[Bernd Alheit]

Not possible with the Action Wizard.

[standard banko31014434]

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

[Bernd Alheit]

It is possible with Adobe Acrobat when you create a plugin for this.

[standard banko31014434]

Thanks ,do you get the plugin from the market place or how do you obtain the plug in ?

[Thom Parker]

There is no off-the-shelf plug-in for this. You have to do it custom. However, if you are interested, I have created plug-ins that work with JavaScript to give PDFs unique passwords.  It is however, not cheap. Message me through this forum.

[standard banko31014434]

Thank you ,how much is the plug in and is it secure ? 

[Thom Parker]

You'll need to contact me privately, and what do you mean by secure?