How can I add password to PDF for protection from Windows 11?

When adding password to PDF, choosing the right encryption method is crucial. If you're using software like Adobe Acrobat or even Microsoft’s built-in tools, make sure to select the strongest encryption option available. Look for AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) if you can. Some options might use weaker protection that can be cracked pretty easily.

 If you're considering adding password to PDF on Windows computer instead of using a neat tool like Preview on Mac, there are definitely a few downsides to think about:

• Unlike Preview, which comes built-in with macOS, Windows doesn't have a default app that makes it super easy to password-protect PDFs. You usually have to rely on third-party software, and not all of them are user-friendly or even free. So, the extra step of downloading and installing software can be a bit of a hassle.
• Some PDF editors on Windows might offer too many features that can confuse you if you just want to simply add a password. You might end up sifting through a bunch of options and menus just to find that one "Encrypt" feature, and that’s not exactly a good time.
• A lot of decent PDF tools on Windows might offer a free trial, but guess what? They often have major functionalities locked behind a paywall. So, unless you fork over some cash, you might be stuck with limited options that may not even meet your needs.
• When you password-protect a PDF on Windows, you might not get that immediate feedback you get with Preview. Like, you can’t just instantly test if the password works after you save it without opening the file through another app.

So, while adding password to PDF on Windows is totally doable, it might require a bit more work and caution. If you’re used to the seamless experience on Mac, transitioning to Windows for this task might feel clunky and frustrating. My advice?

If you’re cool with using an online tool to add password to PDF, there are also websites like Sma11pdf or PDF2Go where you can upload your PDF, set a password, and then download the protected version. I’ve used Sma11pdf a few times, and it’s pretty straightforward.

1. Go to the Website: Open Sma11pdf in your browser.
2. Upload Your PDF: Drag and drop your file into the designated area.
3. Set Your Password: Type in the password you want to use. You might have to confirm it by entering it again. 
4. Download the Protected File: Once your PDF is processed, download the newly protected version to your computer.
    

Personal Experience
I remember I had to send some sensitive documents for work, and I didn’t want them falling into the wrong hands. Using PDF24 was super helpful. The app was easy to navigate, and setting the password took literally no time at all.  

I’ll admit, using online tools to add password to PDF can be a little nerve-wracking for sensitive information, but the convenience is hard to beat if you’re in a hurry. Just make sure you’re on a secure connection!

If you’re looking to password protect PDF on Windows computer without shelling out any cash, I’ve got a couple of solid methods for you. I’ve done this a few times when I needed to share files but wanted to keep things secure. Here’s what I found works best:

Method 1: Using Microsoft Print to PDF

• Open Your PDF: First, fire up the PDF file you want to protect in a program like Adobe Reader or even in your web browser.
• Print to PDF: Hit the print option (usually Ctrl + P), and select Microsoft Print to PDF as your printer. It’ll create a new PDF file on your computer.
• Set Up Password: Here’s the catch—this method doesn’t let you set a password while saving directly, but you can then use free PDF tools like PDF24 or Sma11pdf online to add a password to your new PDF.

Method 2: Using Free PDF Software
If you want a straightforward way to password protect PDF from the get-go, you might want to try a free tool like PDF24 Creator or pdfforge (CutePDF is another alternative). Here's how I did it with PDF24:

• Download PDF24 Creator: Go to their website and download the software. Installation is quick and easy—just a few clicks.
• Open PDF24: Once installed, open the program, and you’ll see options for creating and editing PDFs.
• Drag Your PDF In: Just drag the PDF you want to protect into the PDF24 window.
• Set the Password: Look for the “Protect PDF” option. You can set a password here, and it’ll even let you specify if you want to restrict editing or printing.
• Save the New PDF: After you’ve set your password, click to save the new PDF. Voilà! Just like that, your document is password protected.

Preview is a PDF and image viewing/editing tool that comes with macOS and supports adding password protection to PDFs without installing additional software. It is suitable for quickly encrypting PDF files and supports simple PDF editing, signing, and merging.

You can create a new Mac virtual machine and start password protecting PDF with the free Preview app.

How to add password to PDF on Mac virtual machine

1. Click "File" → "Export to PDF" on the top menu bar.
2. In the pop-up window, click the "Encrypt" option (if there is no such option, the macOS version may be too old).
3. Enter the password you want for the PDF in the "Confirm password" field, and re-enter the same password
4. Click "Store", choose the file save location. This will add password to PDF without any tool.
5. Find the encrypted PDF file just saved, double-click to open.
6. The system will pop up the password input box, enter the password and click "OK".
7. If the password is correct, the PDF will be unlocked. If it is incorrect, you can not view the content.

Microsoft Print to PDF, a virtual printing feature that comes with Windows 10/11, which allows users to convert any printable file (e.g. Word, Excel, web page) to PDF and can add password to PDF. It is suitable for users who don't want to install additional software and just need to simply encrypt PDF.

Part 1: Open PDF files and print files

1. Right-click on the PDF file and select “Open Method” → “Microsoft Edge”.
2. Press the keyboard Ctrl + P or click on the upper right corner of the browser menu “Print” option
3. In the “Printer” option, click the drop-down menu, select “Microsoft Print to PDF”.
Be careful not to select the actual printer on your computer!
4. Make sure that the page size, orientation and other settings are correct usually the default can be

Part 2: Enable PDF encryption options

1. Click the “Print” button, the system will pop-up “Save As” window.
2. At the bottom of the window, click “Options” (some versions may be displayed as “more settings”).
3. Check the “Encrypt PDF files” if this option is not available, the Windows version may not support encryption!
4. Click “OK” to return to the “Save As” window.

Part 3: Add Password to PDF
1. In the pop-up "Set Password" window, enter the PDF password you want.
2. Confirm the password click "OK" to complete the password settings.
(It is recommended to use 8-16 bit complex password, including upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters).

Part 4: Save the encrypted PDF
Enter the file name and click "Save" Windows begins to password protect PDF file. It only takes a few seconds to complete the task.

PDFEncrypt is a completely free PDF encryption tool that allows users to add passwords to PDF files and supports advanced encryption options (restrict printing, copying, editing). It is suitable for users who need to add password to PDF files in bulk, or want to customize encryption permissions. The program is available for Windows and macOS and has no ads or feature limitations!

Step 1: Import PDF File

Click "Add File" or "Add Folder" (you can import multiple PDFs at once).

Step 2: Choose an encryption algorithm

Select encryption level: AES 128-bit (normal security) AES 256-bit (highest security level)

Step 3: Set PDF permissions:

1. Prohibit Printing (when checked, users can not print the PDF).
2. Prohibit copying text (after checking, the text inside the PDF cannot be copied).
3. prohibit editing (after the check box, you can not modify the contents of the PDF).

Step 4: Perform encryption and save the file

1. Select the location of the encrypted file (default stored in the “Documents” folder).
2. Click "Encrypt and Save", the software begins to password protect the PDF file.
3. Wait for the completion of processing, the system will display the “encryption success” prompt.

Step 5: Test the password protected PDF file

1. Find the encrypted PDF file, double-click to open.
2. Enter the password, click "OK" to ensure that the file can be unlocked properly!

If you need to add password to pdf files in batch, PDFEncrypt is the most powerful choice he is completely free, support batch encryption PDF. It can restrict PDF printing, copying, editing privileges, and has strong compatibility.