Is there an easy way to encrypt a PDF?

I need to be able to send my parents a copy of some documents I have in PDF format, but I want to ensure privacy and encrypt them first. Is there some easy way to do this?

Dave's Answer:

You don't say whether you're running a Mac or Windows system, so I'll show you a solution for both. The Mac solution is quite a bit easier, but let's start with Windows because there's a nifty - free - application you can download to do just what you ask. I'm using Windows Vista for this demo, but the application works with both Vista and Windows XP.

The application I found to encrypt on the Windows side is called PDF ReDirect and you can download it from one of my favorite Windows download sites, download.com.

Once you have it installed, launch the app and drill down to the folder that contains the PDF file you want to encrypt. As you can see in the below screen shot, the interface is a bit confusing, unfortunately, once you're ready to encrypt the file:

PDF ReDirect: Encrypting PDF on Windows XP / Vista

I've labeled the areas in red to make this easier: you need to check "Encrypt PDF File" and enter a password on the middle-right box (#1), move your PDF file into the "merge list" in the middle (#2) and you'll want to rename the resultant file on the bottom box (#3) -- I added "-encrypted" to mine.

Once you have that all configured properly, click on "Save" near the bottom and you'll see:

A few seconds later, your file will be encrypted under its new name and you're ready to go.

The Mac Alternative

If you're running Mac OS X, however, you don't need to download anything and it's quite a bit easier. Open up your PDF file in "Preview" and choose File --> Save As.... You'll face the following dialog box:

Give the new file a different name to the existing file, click on "Encrypt", the click on "Save" and a second or two later your file is encrypted and ready to transmit.

Either way, it's always a good idea to keep PDF files encrypted on your laptop especially. Just in case someone else gets their hands on it...

Update: Another application that offers the same functionality, though with a simpler interface is Smart PDF Converter Pro, which lets you encrypt PDF files including content copying, form filling, printing support and much more. A smart alternative choice.

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Categorized: Mac OS X Help , Windows PC Help (Article 8042, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: encipherment, file security, pdf encryption
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Reader Comments To Date: 9

Mike said, on May 9, 2008 7:15 AM:

Is there a big difference between this method and using some more general purpose encryption program such as File2File or Iron Key? They can do more than PDF.

Does PDF ReDirect have any special advantages?

Thanks!

Dave Taylor said, on May 9, 2008 8:53 PM:

I think that the big difference, Mike, is that if you use something like File2File don't they need to also have that app on the receiving end to decrypt it? If you add a password to a PDF file, however, their existing PDF reader will doubtless be able to handle it without any fuss.

Mike said, on May 12, 2008 7:43 AM:

The free versions of File2File and Iron Key can both create self-extracting executables, so the recipient only needs the password. No additional software needs to be installed on the receiving computer. I've been using File2File for some personal files, and it works well and simply.

I have not made a comparison with file sizes. The self-extracting code will add size, but it has been OK for my uses.

The .exe extension could be changed so that you could email the encrypted file without it being blocked by some email programs.

I'm not saying that File2File and similar programs are better than PDF ReDirect, but they may be more flexible in handling a wider range of file types.

sclinac said, on October 7, 2008 9:45 PM:

Great.
And the google DOCS can help you to make DOC to PDF

Peter Franklin said, on May 5, 2009 7:56 AM:

Hello.. I am looking for a pdf application that accepts multiple pages of input without requiring operator acknowledgement between each page. In other words, the application needs to keep on concatenating page after page just as a physical printer would do. Cutepdf and others I have looked at lack this feature. Any ideas? THANKS IN ADVANCE.

linky1124 said, on August 24, 2009 12:54 AM:

Thank you for the wonderful post.

garlu said, on May 23, 2010 11:46 AM:

On the mac side if you try to encrypt a pdf that you have filled in some text (such as those from the IRS) it will seem to encrypt fine but when you go to open it all the fill-in text will be garbled. The work around is to "print" the original pdf from Preview and in in the resulting print dialog box click on PDF in the lower left corner and choose Save As PDF-X. You can then safely encrypt that file. I have opened resulting pdf with the password in Preview and Acrobat Reader and the fill-in text is not garbled.

Sally said, on October 25, 2011 10:45 AM:

This encryption method works great, but is there a way I can remove the encryption once I've added it?

Barry Rodgers said, on April 22, 2012 11:20 PM:

Hi,

Just want to post a warning about the software from Dave's link.

1. It did not work on my Win7 machine
2. It has some rather nasty spyware in it that will take control of your browsers (all of them) and is difficult to get rid of.

Barry

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

Is there an easy way to encrypt a PDF?

Reader Comments To Date: 9

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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