How to edit a password protected pdf on my Windows PC?

You need to remove the password protection in order to edit the pdf file. You can do this in one click with by following the trick shared in this post:

https://www.techgizz.com/remove-password-protection-from-pdf

It's really hard to edit a password protected PDF! But don't panic, I'll give you 3 wild ways, which are proven to be effective.

1. Online stripping method
Just search "edit a password protected PDF online" and find a website like Ssmallpdf/iovePDF. Drag the encrypted PDF in, enter the password and it will become a "naked version" in seconds. Note: Don't use this method for confidential files, be careful that the file will be swallowed by the website!

2. Acrobat Pro cool operation
If you have Adobe family bucket, use Acrobat Pro to open the encrypted PDF. After entering the password, quickly click "File → Save As → Microsoft Word" to instantly convert the PDF into an editable document. Perfectly meet the needs of editing a password protected PDF~

3. Brute force cracking flow
Download PDF Password Remover (such as dr-pdf-like tools). Although it takes a long time to wait for complex passwords, if you forget the password, you can edit a password protected PDF while the software is on.

PS: Remember to read the user agreement first, don't get pirated files!

Tip: These methods can only be used for files that you have permission to modify! If you are helping your boss or client encrypt a PDF... it is safer to ask the person for the password directly.

Editing a password protected PDF file requires a few steps. However, please remember that you should only edit PDF files that you have the legal right to access and modify. Here are several methods you can try to unlock and edit a password protected PDF:

1. If you have Adobe Acrobat (not just the Reader), you can unlock the PDF if you know the password:

• Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
• Enter the Password: When prompted, enter the password to open the file.
• Remove Security: Go to the “File” menu, select “Properties,” click on the “Security” tab, and choose “No
• Security” from the security method dropdown.
• Save the File: Save your PDF to preserve changes.

2. If you can open the PDF file but not edit it, you can “print” it to a new PDF file:

• Open the PDF in a PDF reader (like Adobe Reader).
• Select Print.
• Choose “Print to PDF” as the printer option.
• Save the New Document. This will create a new PDF without the restrictions.

Legal Considerations: Ensure that you have the right to edit the PDF. Bypassing security on documents without permission can be illegal.
Backup: Always make a copy of the original PDF before trying to unlock or edit a password protected PDF.
Security Risks: Using online tools can pose security risks; ensure you are comfortable uploading sensitive documents to the cloud.

You need to enter the correct password if the PDF is protected by a password. 

PDF open password is a setting used to protect the privacy and security of PDF files. When the creator wants to restrict others' access to the PDF file, he/she can set an open password for it. When a PDF file with an open password is opened, the system will ask for the correct password, and only after entering the correct password can the user view the specific contents of the file. This password protection mechanism effectively prevents unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information in the file.

In general, if you forgot the PDF password, it is difficult to directly restore the original password, but you can try the following methods to edit password protected pdf file after recovering the password :

First, carefully recall the relevant information when setting the password, such as whether a specific combination of numbers (e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, etc.), letter sequences (e.g., initials, common words, etc.) were used. Sometimes, by recalling these possible clues, it is possible to retrieve the password.

Professional Software: Some professional PDF editing software may provide password recovery features, but the same can not guarantee that all encryption methods are effective. For example, some passwords of advanced encryption algorithms may be difficult to crack by regular recovery means.

For some simple encryption methods of PDF files, if you still remember some of the password information, such as the length of the password, the type of characters contained (letters, numbers, special characters, etc.), you can try to retrieve the password by means of brute force cracking. However, it takes a lot of time and computing resources, and the possibility of success is lower for complex passwords.

Totally get your struggle with trying to edit a password protected PDF—it's like running into a brick wall when all you want is to just change a little text. Luckily, there are some options out there that are free and can help you out. Let me share some of my go-to tools and experiences.

1. IL0vePDF
This is super straightforward. It’s got a clean interface, and you can find the Unlock PDF feature pretty easily. You just upload the locked file, and it gives you an unlocked version to download. Sometimes, it even lets you know if the file can’t be unlocked, which is honestly helpful.

2. Sejde PDF Editor
This one is a bit different since it combines unlocking and editing edit a password protected PDF in one place. Sejde has an online PDF editor where you can upload your locked PDF, unlock it, and edit it right away. I like using this if I need to make small tweaks without jumping around different tools. Just keep in mind that there are some limits on file size and a number of tasks per hour with the free version.

3. PDF-XChenge Editor
If you wanna go the software route, PDF-XChenge Editor is a free desktop application that’s pretty powerful. It can’t unlock password-protected PDFs that are heavily secured, but if the password is simple (like just one to open), it can help you out. You just input the password, and then you can edit a password protected PDF as needed. I’ve found it to be pretty reliable for editing standard PDFs, and the interface isn’t too bad either.

If you know the pdf password, then Adobe Acrobat Pro is a nice tool to let you edit a password protect PDF file.

Steps:

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro DC software, click the ‘Open’ button, find and select the need to edit the PDF file with the password.

2. In the pop-up ‘Open PDF file’ dialogue box, enter the correct password, and then click ‘Open’.

3. After the file is successfully opened, click on the menu bar in the ‘Edit PDF’ option, this time the document into the editable state, you can modify the text, images and other content, add or delete and other operations.

4. After editing, click ‘File’ - ‘Save’ to save the modified PDF file.

For editing password protected PDF files, Adobe Acrobat Pro is perfectly compatible and supports unlocked editing. Users only need to enter the correct password when opening the file, you can enter the full-featured editing environment. Its interface design is simple and intuitive, easy to use, even for first-time users can quickly familiarize themselves with the operating process. At the same time, it also has a high degree of stability and security, can effectively protect the integrity of PDF documents and confidentiality, is one of the first choice of professionals and ordinary users to deal with PDF documents.