Getting the message - "This PDF File is Protected" after updating to Windows 11

Question

Hi,

We are noticing a message "This PDF File is protected" when trying to open a pdf file.

This is happening intermittently, i.e., some users are facing this and some are not. Some files are opening and some are not. Some files open well on different browsers, but not on all the browsers.

We are facing this issue since upgrading to Windows 11.

Kindly assist.

Regards,
Tejas

Answer 1

Hello

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

Here are some steps you can try to resolve this:

1. Ensure your PDF reader (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader) is up to date. Sometimes, updates include fixes for compatibility issues with new operating systems.
2. Verify that you have the necessary permissions to open the protected PDF. Some PDFs require specific permissions or passwords to access.
3. If you're using a specific PDF reader, try opening the file with a different one, such as Microsoft Edge or another PDF reader.
4. If you're using Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can try repairing the installation:

• Open Adobe Acrobat Reader. • Go to Help > Repair Installation.

5. In Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can try disabling Protected Mode:

• Go to Edit > Preferences > Security (Enhanced). • Uncheck "Enable Protected Mode at startup". 6. Uninstall and then reinstall your PDF reader to ensure a clean installation.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Daisy Zhou

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Answer 2

Hi Daisy,

Thank You for answering.

However, please note that we are not using any PDF reader in particular. We are using different internet browsers like Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. And like I have mentioned, this is happening intermittently. Sometimes it opens, sometimes it does not. Also, we have not protected any files.

Additionally, we are facing this issue since upgrading to Windows 11. The same files were opening without any hiccups previously.

Regards,

Tejas