How to encrypt a PDF document on Mac?

Do you want to protect your PDF files by creating a password? Actually, there is an easy way to encrypt it without downloading any software on Mac.

A PDF document can have two kinds of passwords: a document open password and a permission password. A document open password can refuse the file being accessed by someone who do not have the password. If you want to restrict the printing and editing operations of your PDF files, you can add the permission password to enhance security.

Creating a password for PDF document is commonly used by most people if the file is very important or you just like to share the file in private. Absolutely, there are many third part softwares help Mac users to create a password for PDF files. But in fact, no separate software is needed to set restriction of PDF files on Mac. Mac OS X has PDF generation and encryption built in to the operating system.

Step by step to encrypt PDF on Mac:

Step 1, Open the PDF you want to encrypt

Before you are going to take the steps below, please open the PDF document which you want to encrypt with "Preview" application on Mac.

Step 2, Choose appropriate options

From the "File" menu, select the "Print..." option. Then in the pop up dialogue, click the "PDF" button and choose the "Save as PDF..." option from the drop down list.

Step 3, Set name and destination for encrypted PDF

If you do not want the encrypted PDF document to overwrite the source file, please modify the output name and destination in the pop up window.

Step 4, Add password for PDF

Click "Security Options..." button it will pop up a window. Here you can add passwords for the PDF document as you like.

After typing and verifying the passwords, click "OK" button for sure. The process of encrypting will be completed in seconds after you click "Save" button in the "Save" panel.

Note: From the menu bar of "Preview" application, you can see the permissions of the PDF document by clicking the "Tools-->Show Inspector" option.