Encrypting Multiple pdf Files Within a Folder

NOTE: If your folder contains files that are not in the .pdf format, this process will automatically attempt to convert those files into pdf files. For example, if you have an image file with a .jpg format, or a word file, adobe acrobat will attempt to convert those files into .pdf files before encrypting them. It is recommended that your encryption folder contain only pdf files that you want encrypted. 

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro.
     
  2. Select the All Tools tab.

    Adobe Acrobat home screen showing file navigation, PDF Q&A options, file-insight tools, and suggested PDF tools.

     
  3. Scroll down the list of tools until you see Use Guided Actions. Open the Use Guided Actions tool.


    PDF tools dashboard organized by Protect, Share and review, and Prepare; “Use guided actions” is highlighted with an orange border.

     
  4. Next, click on Actions select New Action on the left-hand toolbar.
    Mobile “Use guided actions” menu listing document actions, with “Actions” highlighted in orange.


     
  5. Under 'Choose tools to add' select the 'Protection' drop down menu and double-click on 'Encryption' This will add the encryption option on the right side panel.

    Screenshot of a PDF application’s “Create New Action” dialog with the “Encrypt” tool under “Protection” highlighted by a red outline.

     
  6. Make sure the 'Prompt User' check box is NOT checked and click 'Specify Settings'.

    Software interface showing file-processing options, with the “Specify Settings” and “Prompt User” options highlighted by a red box.

     
  7. Select 'Password Security' in the drop down menu and specify your encryption settings - then click ok – you will be prompted to verify the passwords you’ve created.

    Adobe Acrobat “Create New Action” window with a Document Security dropdown open and Password Security highlighted.



     
  8. Confirm the password you just created in the pop-up, and then close the document security window.

    Password dialog requesting a password to open files, with an empty input field and OK and Cancel buttons.Document Security dialog showing Password Security selected and the Close button highlighted with a red outline.
     
  9. Next, under the right side panel of the 'create new action' window - click on the folder icon under 'files to be processed' then browse to the folder containing the pdf’s you want to protect and select it – then click 'ok'.

    Screenshot of Adobe Acrobat’s “Create New Action” window with the folder-add icon and OK button highlighted in red, alongside a “Browse For Folder” dialog showing the selected “pdfFolder.”

     
  10. Click Save – you will be prompted to name the action. You can call it something like 'Encrypt Folder' - You can also write a description if you choose.Then click save. 

    Screenshot of a “Create New Action” dialog showing a password-protection action named “EncryFolder” being saved.

     
  11. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro and select the Action Wizard under the tools panel.
     
  12. Look for the 'Encrypt Folder'  action that you created under the 'Action List' on the right side panel and click on it – you should notice that a list of the files contained in your pdf folder is displayed.

    A guided-actions menu lists document options, with “EncryptFolder” highlighted in orange.     
     
  13. Press the blue start button (located at the bottom of the left-hand menu) – you will notice that as the settings are applied to each file they will have a check mark next to them. Once the process is complete the blue 'start' button will say Done.

     

Once the process is complete you can close adobe acrobat and open the folder containing your pdf files and verify that they are password protected.

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