Use the options in the Security tab to encrypt and protect PDF documents. For example, you can use passwords to protect and restrict the opening, printing, or changing of a document’s contents in a PDF editor. When a protected document is displayed in a PDF editor, the tools and options that would normally be active to modify or change content appear dimmed. In addition to passwords, you can also add a digital signature to a PDF document to prove the authenticity of its origin and sender (i.e., it was not altered in transit).


 Tip: Consider keeping a backup copy of the PDF, without password-protection in case you lose or forget the password.


To Select Security Settings

  1. Using the application's printer dialog select Xodo PDF from the printer name list.
  2. Click "Properties" to view additional settings
  3. Go to the Security Settings tab and select from the below options
  4. Click OK to apply the settings before generating the PDF


Available Options

Encryption - To set the encryption level and password protection of a PDF document. Select the Encryption option. Options and text fields become active. Use the following options: 

  • Quality: To set the encryption strength. Select between a 40, 128- or 256-bit encryption levels. 
  • Owner Password: To set the password for the author of the document. 
  • User Settings: To set an optional password for the document recipient. You can set one of the followings: 
  • A blank password: The user is not prompted for a password to open the document but is restricted to the operations set by its author. 
  • The same password as the owner: In this case the user is prompted for a password and the author of the document will not be able to open this document as an owner to change its security settings. 
  • A password different from the owner: In this case, the user will not be able to open the document unless he/she enters a valid password. When a valid password is entered, the document can be viewed but its usage is restricted to the operations set by its author. 


In addition, you can select the following protective options: 

  • Enable changing the document content: To enable the changing of the contents of the PDF document. 
  • Enable printing of document: To enable printing of the PDF document. 
  • Enable copying text or graphics from the document: To enable the copying of text and graphics from the PDF document. 
  • Enable adding notes or modifying form fields: To enable the adding and editing of notes and form fields to the main body of the document. 


Digital Signature - To associate a digital certificate to a digital signature. Select the Digital Signature option. The Digital Signature dialog box displays. Use the following options: 

  • Signed by: To select a digital certificate from the system (which is also commonly the name of the system user). Note: “Encrypting File System” certificates cannot be used to sign PDF documents.
  • Reason for signing: To specify the reason for signing the document, for example, “Agreed” or “Certified”. 
  • Image: To associate an image to a digital signature. 
  • Location: To specify the location from which the document was signed. Position and Size To set the page number and page position at which the digital signature will display. Visible Items Signed by, Reason, Image, Location, Date Signed, Signature Type