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

Community Beginner ,
Jul 31, 2018 Jul 31, 2018

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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.

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General troubleshooting , View PDF

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

LEGEND , Jul 31, 2018 Jul 31, 2018

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.

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New Here ,
Dec 21, 2021 Dec 21, 2021

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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!! 👍🏼8)

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New Here ,
Jan 19, 2022 Jan 19, 2022

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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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New Here ,
Feb 20, 2022 Feb 20, 2022

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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 Feb 20, 2022

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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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New Here ,
Feb 20, 2022 Feb 20, 2022

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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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LEGEND ,
Feb 20, 2022 Feb 20, 2022

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Hi Kathy, it's pretty sure that Form Simplicity is adding this password, specifically to stop editing. The web site says the software can set a password, but not how to turn it off. If these are just free samples, then it would have a password, I suspect, to make sure people want to buy - to stop editing in Acrobat... anyway, as a customer, I suggest you contact support for Form Simplicity and ask them. Technical and Customer Support & Help Center | Forms Simplicity (formsimplicity.com)

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New Here ,
Feb 20, 2022 Feb 20, 2022

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I'll try that. 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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New Here ,
Feb 20, 2022 Feb 20, 2022

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In my case, putting the pdf in trusted documents allowed certificate
protected documents to be handled like they should..

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New Here ,
Mar 14, 2022 Mar 14, 2022

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[abuse removed by moderator]

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New Here ,
Mar 23, 2022 Mar 23, 2022

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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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New Here ,
Mar 23, 2022 Mar 23, 2022

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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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New Here ,
Mar 23, 2022 Mar 23, 2022

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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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Community Expert ,
Mar 23, 2022 Mar 23, 2022

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Maybe the people you sent it out to applied the password.

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New Here ,
Apr 22, 2022 Apr 22, 2022

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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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New Here ,
May 17, 2022 May 17, 2022

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Revisiting this for further attention and hopefully resolution.

The 7mb publicly accessible PDF listed here

https://www.sfmta.com/maps/muni-service-map

 

Can be opened via web, and via the Preview app on a mac, but when anyone tries to open it in photoshop for printing, it requires a password. I tried to export it as a PDF/A with no permissions required, but it still won't open in photoshop.

 

I am using an up to date version of adobe photoshop 2022.

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LEGEND ,
May 17, 2022 May 17, 2022

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Thank you for the file link. This all seems to be working correctly. The file DOES have a password, see here 

TestScreenName_0-1652823186048.png

No password is needed to open. The password locks it from editing. Since Photoshop is an editor, it asks for the editing password. 

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New Here ,
May 24, 2022 May 24, 2022

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SAME PROBLEM WTF?????? I CANT WORK ON MY FILES 

 

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LEGEND ,
Jun 03, 2022 Jun 03, 2022

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If the problem's the same, then it's the same thing: someone password protected your file, deliberately or by accident, and Acrobat is working just as it's supposed to. You can use File > Properties > General -- Security to double check.

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New Here ,
Jun 03, 2022 Jun 03, 2022

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Seriously, is there any solution to this other than physically printing the documents out and then re-scanning them in? I have inspection documents to combine for reports, and I can't combine files because Adobe THINKS there's a password attached. No one ever makes a password. I've talked to the software engineer that makes our inspection software and swears that DIS Inspect is not creating password protected PDF documents. I comb through the forum trying to find anything to that may help and find nothing. All I can see are tons of people complaining about the same problem. Can anyone point me in a good direction for a fix? 

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Community Expert ,
Jun 03, 2022 Jun 03, 2022

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Someone, or some thing, did. This does not (and can not) happen by itself. The file is secured using a password.

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Community Expert ,
Jun 03, 2022 Jun 03, 2022

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If you need proof this is not just something Acrobat "thinks", here's a screenshot from an independent PDF Debugger tool, that clearly shows the Encrypt object in the file (which is only present when the file is secured), along with the list of permissions set under it, which determine what is (and isn't) allowed to be done to it:

 

try67_0-1654286346199.png

 

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LEGEND ,
Jun 03, 2022 Jun 03, 2022

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You can easily see that this file has a password:

TestScreenName_0-1654285933195.png

It is used to block editing on the file. There are up to 2 passwords for a file: one is needed on opening, one is needed for editing. This one has only the latter. This may be a default setting in the software that makes it, and it might always be set, but a password IS being set. The password might be secret/unknown - yes some software really does this. This needs to be passed back to the engineer who makes the software that makes the PDF, because it is no use anyone saying there is no password.

 

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New Here ,
Jun 14, 2022 Jun 14, 2022

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Hi is it possible to PLEASE post a simple answer to fix the issue of PDFs asking for passwords? This is really outrageous that so many customers are negatively affected by some product upgrade. We all need to get on with our work! HELP FIX THE PROBLEM YOU CREATED PLEASE.

 

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LEGEND ,
Jun 14, 2022 Jun 14, 2022

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The people above aren't affected by an Adobe product upgrade. They are affected because files HAVE PASSWORDS which someone has put there. They don't want the passwords, but that doesn't mean Adobe have something to fix. If you feel you have a file that cannot have a password, please do the test above and post a screen shot: Open file; File > Properties. Security tab. Post shot of entire security window shown.

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New Here ,
Jun 14, 2022 Jun 14, 2022

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Google 

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