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How to Lock a PDF So It Cannot Be Edited [Safe]

We chose the best apps to help you lock your PDFs

6 min. read

Updated onOctober 9, 2024

updated onOctober 9, 2024

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Most PDF programs come with their own options for disabling functionalities such as copying or printing, or feature passwords to protect documents and prevent unauthorized access.

While PDF cracking tools may disable protection,there are some tools thatassure users that their methods will prevent copying after processing a PDF document.

How can locking a PDF from editing help me?

The obvious reason why you need to lock a PDF from editing is to preserve the contents of the document from being modified.

It’s one of the most basic ways of copywriting a file and it’s especially used by a lot of businesses that issue documents for their customers.

Ready to discover the best password-protected PDF file software tools? Our list of solutions will precisely show you how to protect a PDF from being edited by others.

How can I password protect a PDF file?

1. Use Adobe Acrobat DC PRO

Sensitive information requires enhanced protection and Acrobat DC delivers just that.

Its protection covers all fronts so that you can pick the weapon of choice that best fits your needs from password encryption to setting up file permissions.

To prevent reviewers from copying, editing, or printing your PDFs, you can:

⇒Get Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

2. How to lock a PDF without passwords using Locklizard

Locklizard enables you to protect your PDF filesfrom editing, copying, printing, and screenshots without using passwords or certificates.

Unlike restrictions that are applied with a PDF editor or similar application, Locklizard’s copy protection is permanent and cannot be easily removed.

All of these copy protection features are enabled by default when you protect a PDF using the Locklizard Writer application.

Another useful feature it includes is dynamic watermarks. When you protect a PDF, you insert variables into your watermarks that are replaced by actual user data when the PDF document is viewed or printed.

This is used to discourage users from taking photos or photocopies and adds another layer of copy protection if required.

Here are some of Locklizard’smost important features:

Locklizard

3. Create a local Vault using Icecream Password Manager

After taking into consideration the encryption settings that protect some of the most popular password managers, Icecream Password Manager also came up as a reliable choice.

Even if it’s free, rest assured that it easily matches the capabilities of other paid software solutions when it comes to protecting your private PDF files.

Besides that, it’s clear that you’re tired of having to remember dozens of passwords for all the accounts that you use daily.

Icecream Password Manager steps in as a first choice to keep in mind just one master password and get immediate access to all your sensitive data.

Here you’ll find somekey featuresthat Icecream Password Manager brings to the table:

Can I make my PDF uneditable?

Yes, you are able to make both editable and uneditable PDF files on your PC. In most cases, the users are using Adobe Acrobat to edit their files or lock them in order to gain more security.

You can therefore protect PDFs from editing without a password and locking the files using other protection options.

These are the best methods of protecting your PDF files from unauthorized access. Of course, there are numerous other options available, both free and paid.

We picked the most efficient ones that are guaranteed to offer you the necessary level of protection for your PDF documents.

If you want to go further, you can evenuse a PDF encryption software toolthat will secure your documents in a very easy manner.

To further edit your files, we have a guide on how todownload Bytescout PDF Suite on Windows 10, so feel free to check it out.

What is your favorite PDF protection tool? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.

How to Lock a PDF So It Cannot Be Edited [Safe]#

How can locking a PDF from editing help me?#

How can I password protect a PDF file?#

1. Use Adobe Acrobat DC PRO#

2. How to lock a PDF without passwords using Locklizard#

Locklizard#

3. Create a local Vault using Icecream Password Manager#

Can I make my PDF uneditable?#