How to encrypt and decrypt or lock and unlock PDF files or whatever you call it? In the past I wrote a few topics / tutorials related to PDF security and the tools, like how to password protect PDFs and how to recover PDF password & restrictions. Now I would like to share another useful tool that allows you easily protect PDF files (encrypt) and remove PDF protections (decrypt), such as enable / disable password, copy, print, modify and etc.
We will use a program, called PDFill – it’s an all-in-one, powerful but free software to modify PDF documents, that includes an editor, writer and tools. The freeware needs Adobe Reader and GhostScript installed in your PC, both are free, the GhostScript is included within PDFill setup / installation package, so you don’t have to download it. If you have installed the application then you’re ready to encrypt and decrypt your PDFs.
Encrypt a PDF File
1. Run PDFill PDF Tools program and click “Encrypt and Decrypt Options” button
2. Select or load your unprotected PDF file
3. Now you can set a user & owner password to open the PDF, choose the encryption level (40-bit or 128-bit RC4) and add some security protections by removing / deselect the checklists on security options section, for example if you want to disable PDF copy & print you should un-check printing and copy on security options.
4. Click “Encrypt As” button, give a name for the output file, click save and test the result.
Decrypt a PDF File
1. Do step 1 and 2 in Encrypt a PDF File how to
2. If the PDF file is protected by a password then you have to enter its password
3. Now in Encrypt and Decrypt window you can remove the PDF password and check all security options to remove all PDF security protections.
4. Click “Decrypt As”, type a name for the new output file, hit save button and test the result.
