Skip to main content
D
DesperateMeasures
New Participant
February 13, 2020
Question

PDF Password Protection HELP

  • February 13, 2020
  • 8 replies
  • 8781 views

Hello!

So, I've password protected some documents and forgot to write the password down. Now, I can't access them. Based on previous posts on this forum, I know that I won't ever be able to access them unless I remember my password. Annoying, but understabable. My question is this:  is there any way for me to CHANGE my password for FUTURE documents that I will have to encrypt? I accept that I can't access the old ones, but there must be a way to make a new password for future documents that I'll eventually have to encrypt and use a different password.

 

I don't want to "crack" my old, encrypted documents. I just don't want to encrypt future documents using a password I can't remember.

    8 replies

    B
    bianca387900961cjm
    New Participant
    July 24, 2024
    1. How can I get my forgotten password 
    try67
    try67
    Adobe Expert
    July 24, 2024

    Of a PDF file? Not possible.

    C
    Celesti37560165sm9d
    New Participant
    May 22, 2024

    Try the Softaken PDF Unlocker software. It provides a quicker and safer solution to unlock PDF files and reset passwords. The program allows users to independently unlock multiple PDF files. The program provides two sorts of file-filtering features. While the Folder Mode can sort a folder holding several PDFs, the File Mode provides deep file filtration. It is not required to have technical support to use this program. All prior iterations of Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and 6 are compatible with this software. It's easy to download and see the demo version of the program to see its main features.

     

    J
    James37411496rozc
    New Participant
    May 15, 2024

    These problems are not limited to lots of folks. In these cases, the user can utilize an advanced tool known as the OSTtoPSTAPP PDF Unlock Program to unlock password-protected PDFs. Users can change the primary functions of the Unlock PDF software. In addition, you can use any kind of secure password on PDF files using this amazing tool. This intelligent program is capable of locking and unlocking PDF files of any size without limitations thanks to its Unlock PDF feature. By downloading the demo edition of the program right immediately, you can test it and review its main features.

      A
      Akshay258226796f66
      New Participant
      August 26, 2022

      Hii, I found the best solution to unlock the PDF password with the help of the most recommended [Tool name and link removed] tool. The tool is highly recommended by technical experts the experience of more than 10 years. Because this tool is having a very simple graphical interface with user-friendly behavior. All compatible working in all versions of Windows OS. 

      D
      defaultt3h67kckeu44
      New Participant
      October 18, 2021

      I don't know my password and a need to print a important document 

      try67
      try67
      Adobe Expert
      October 18, 2021

      We can't help.

      D
      defaultkbkl3hjd2tay
      New Participant
      September 22, 2020

      That is not my experience. I am new to this and over the weekend I created 64 documents. I was never asked to provide a password and now, because they are password protected not one file will merge. I have no access to two days of work. I have tried every password I ever used in the last several years. Still wont merge.

      Bernd Alheit
      Bernd Alheit
      Adobe Expert
      September 22, 2020

      How have you created the documents?

      JR Boulay
      JR Boulay
      Adobe Expert
      February 13, 2020

      If you are talking about the password of your "Digital ID Certificate", answer is no. Everything is lost.

      Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
      D
      DesperateMeasuresAuthor
      New Participant
      February 13, 2020

      I'm not trying to access the old password protected documents. I know they're lost. But I WILL have to password protect future PDFs using my computer and my ADOBE program for work and I don't want to make these future documents inaccessible after securing them. I don't need to access the old documents, I just need to make sure I can access any new documents I make and encrypt in the future.

      a_C_student16379412
      a_C_student16379412
      Inspiring
      February 13, 2020

      Sorry for being dense, but I still may not understand. You want to restrict editing but not opening/viewing. The process is similar to the steps I mentioned before, File > Properties > Security > Set Security Method to Password Security, then ...

       

      Again, you can enter any password you like.

      Unlike protection from opening a document, protection from editing is not real encryption. It is notoriously weak and can be easily defeated using a free service like freemypdf.com (at least in my experience). 

       

      a_C_student16379412
      a_C_student16379412
      Inspiring
      February 13, 2020

      I'm not sure I understand your question. In Acrobat, File > Properties > Security > Require a password to open the document > Document open password. Then, enter any password that you are certain to remember. I use an encrypted Word document to store my many passwords (or hints). That way I only have to be certain I remember the password to the Word document.

      D
      DesperateMeasuresAuthor
      New Participant
      February 13, 2020

      Hmmm. Not quite what I was asking. I'm encrypting work PDFs with a password so that no one but myself can edit them (but I want others to be able to open and view them). I set up my password last month as a test, but forgot to write it down after encrypting a few PDF documents. Now, I wanted to password protect the editing of a new PDF document, I enabled the protection (which didn't require my password), then realized I couldn't UNencrypt it (if I needed to make changes later) because I had forgotten my password.

       

      Previous discussions on this forum imply that there's no way to reset the current password. However, in the future I will have to encrypt more PDFs, but I don't want to password protect them with a password that I can't remember. I was just wondering if there was a way to change the password for when I need to encrypt future PDF files. Is there a way to change the password of future documents without knowing my old password (i.e. the old documents would still be protected by the old password and thus unaccessible to editing, but any new documents I password protect would use a DIFFERENT/NEW password)? Or am I SOL when it comes to password protecting PDFs unless I can remember my old password?

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices