How to lock a pdf from editing without adobe acrobat?

As part of the Microsoft Office suite, Microsoft Word offers a built-in feature that allows you to lock a pdf from editing without adobe. This simple built-in encryption feature is the most convenient solution for preventing editing in your daily work.

How to Lock a PDF from editing without Adobe

Step 1: Launch the software and open the target PDF file; Word will automatically convert the PDF into an editable Word document.

Step 2: Click the File tab, select Save As, and then set the output format to PDF.

Step 3: Locate and click the Options... button next to the File Type drop-down box.

Step 4: In the PDF Options window that appears, check the “Encrypt the document with a password” option.

Step 5: Enter a custom password and click OK to confirm the password settings.

Finally, select a save location and save the new protected PDF file.

After saving, the generated PDF file will be password-protected. Viewers can only open the file by entering the correct password, and all editing, copying, and modification operations will be completely restricted.

Pros

• Easy to use, making it ideal for beginners without specialized PDF skills.
• It’s free to use if you already own a genuine copy of Microsoft Word.
• Effectively prevents editing, copying, and printing of PDF content.

Cons

• The PDF conversion process may cause minor distortions in complex layouts, tables, or special fonts.
• Available only to users with Microsoft Office Word; Word Online is not supported.
• If you forget the password you set, it cannot be recovered.