--- title: "Failure Reason: File is Password Protected" description: Why your file can’t be processed even if it opens without a password - what’s going on and how to fix it --- [Skip to content](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/failure-reason-password-protected-file#main-content) ![Logo (transparent background, red emblem, red text, tagline NOT included) (PRIVATE).png\]](https://support.postworks.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20(transparent%20background%2c%20red%20emblem%2c%20red%20text%2c%20tagline%20NOT%20included)%20(PRIVATE).png?height=40&name=Logo%20(transparent%20background%2c%20red%20emblem%2c%20red%20text%2c%20tagline%20NOT%20included)%20(PRIVATE).png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Postworks Portal](https://app.postworks.co.uk/dashboard/send) [Postworks Portal](https://app.postworks.co.uk/dashboard/send) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Support Centre](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Troubleshooting](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en) 3. [FAQ](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#faq) # Failure Reason: File is Password Protected ## Why your file can’t be processed even if it opens without a password - what’s going on and how to fix it Even if your file opens fine without a password, some PDFs include permissions that restrict editing. Because Postworks needs to add document integrity barcodes (to protect against data breaches), any edit restrictions will cause processing to fail.     How to check and fix it: ### 1. Open your file in **Adobe Acrobat** (or Adobe Reader). ### 2. Press **Ctrl + D** to open the **Document Properties**. ### 3. Switch to the **Security** tab. ### 4. Look at the **Document Restrictions Summary**: - If any permission shows **“Not Allowed”**, editing is blocked - and that means your file can’t be processed by Postworks. ### ![](https://api.hubspot.com/filemanager/api/v2/files/39695418535/signed-url-redirect?portalId=4147620) ### 5. To resolve this, the file's creator must remove those restrictions - usually via **‘Remove Security’**, **‘Change Security Settings’**, or by saving a version without protection.   - [Send Letters](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/send-letters?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Preparing your documents](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/send-letters?hsLang=en#preparing-your-documents) - [Sending via Web Portal](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/send-letters?hsLang=en#sending-via-web-portal) - [PDFs containing multiple recipients (mailmerges)](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/send-letters?hsLang=en#pdfs-containing-multiple-recipients-mailmerges) - [User Management](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/send-letters?hsLang=en#user-management) - [Reports](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/send-letters?hsLang=en#reports) - [Account Top-up](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/send-letters?hsLang=en#account-top-up) - [Quick Start Guide](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/send-letters?hsLang=en#quick-start-guide) - [Receive Letters](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/receive-letters?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Getting started](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/receive-letters?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [Viewing your post](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/receive-letters?hsLang=en#viewing-your-post) - [Managing inbound mail](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/receive-letters?hsLang=en#managing-inbound-mail) - [Digital Reply Envelopes (DREs)](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/receive-letters?hsLang=en#digital-reply-envelopes-dres) - [Account and Teams](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/account-and-teams?hsLang=en#main-content) - [User management](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/account-and-teams?hsLang=en#user-management) - [Permissions](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/account-and-teams?hsLang=en#permissions) - [Company settings](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/account-and-teams?hsLang=en#company-settings) - [Security and Compliance](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/account-and-teams?hsLang=en#security-and-compliance) - [Billing and payments](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/billing-and-payments?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Prepay account](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/billing-and-payments?hsLang=en#prepay-account) - [Troubleshooting](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [FAQ](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#faq) - [Troubleshooting](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#troubleshooting) - [Postworks API](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postworks-api?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Getting started](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postworks-api?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [API reference](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postworks-api?hsLang=en#api-reference) - [Software Downloads](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/software-downloads?hsLang=en#main-content) - [PostboxPrint™](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/software-downloads?hsLang=en#postboxprint) - [PostboxServer™](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/software-downloads?hsLang=en#postboxserver) - ['Postworks friendly' documents](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postworks-friendly-documents?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Standard letters](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postworks-friendly-documents?hsLang=en#standard-letters) - [Mailmerge](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postworks-friendly-documents?hsLang=en#mailmerge) - [Postworks Receive™](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postworks-receive?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Pricing](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postworks-receive?hsLang=en#pricing) - [PostboxServer™](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postboxserver?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Getting started](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postboxserver?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [PostboxPrint™](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postboxprint?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Getting started](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postboxprint?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [Using PostboxPrint™ with Antivirus software](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postboxprint?hsLang=en#using-postboxprint-with-antivirus-software) - [Troubleshooting](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/postboxprint?hsLang=en#troubleshooting) - [Integrations](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/integrations?hsLang=en) - [Fastrack™](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/fastrack?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Getting Started](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/fastrack?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [Environmental](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/environmental?hsLang=en) - [ClearSend®](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/clearsend?hsLang=en) - [Merge API](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/merge-api?hsLang=en) - [Product updates](https://support.postworks.co.uk/knowledge/product-updates?hsLang=en) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://support.postworks.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20(transparent%20background%2c%20red%20emblem%2c%20red%20text%2c%20tagline%20NOT%20included)%20(PRIVATE).png?width=109&height=24&name=Logo%20(transparent%20background%2c%20red%20emblem%2c%20red%20text%2c%20tagline%20NOT%20included)%20(PRIVATE).png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.postworks.co.uk) Our mission is to 'be a pleasure to do business with'. Thank you for choosing us. Copyright © 2025, Postworks Limited