About password protection

By Cynthia, 7 December, 2025

You can add a password to a PDF to limit access and restrict certain features, such as printing, copying and editing.

There are two kinds of passwords that could be applied to a PDF file: a Document Open password and a Permissions password. When you set a Document Open password, anyone who tries to open the PDF must type in the password that you specified. When you set a Permissions password, anyone who wants to change the restrictions must type the Permissions password. Please note that if a PDF is secured with both types of passwords, it can be opened with either password, but only the Permissions password allows you to change the restrictions.

Tips: 

  1. There’s no way out to recover password from the PDF if you forgot it. To keep a backup copy of the PDF that isn’t password-protected is a good choice.
  2. Foxit PDF Editor allows you to input Unicode password in the password input box when you open a document protected by Unicode password. 
HTML User Manual Product
Foxit PDF Editor for Windows