Why can't encrypted PDFs be signed?
Addo Sign requires full access to the contents of a PDF file to prepare the document for signing and correctly apply digital signatures.
If a PDF file is encrypted or password-protected, Addo Sign cannot access the document. Therefore, the document cannot be processed for signing, and an error will appear when you attempt to upload the file.
If the document contains sensitive information, you do not need to encrypt or password-protect it before uploading it. When you create a transaction in Addo Sign, the documents are automatically encrypted. You can also protect access to the completed PDF files with a code. This is explained later in the article.
How to fix the issue
If your PDF is encrypted, you can usually resolve the problem by creating an unencrypted copy of the document.
Open the PDF in your preferred PDF editor or viewer.
Save or export the document as a new PDF without password protection or encryption.
Upload the new PDF to the signing platform.
The new version should upload successfully as long as it is no longer encrypted.
How to add password protection to a document
If your document contains sensitive information, there’s no need to encrypt it before uploading it for signing.
Instead, you can protect the document by selecting a secure authentication method for the signer. You can also protect access to the completed documents using a code, password, or PIN.
Read How Signed Documents Are Distributed to learn where to configure the security settings in Addo Sign. The article also explains the different types of password protection and how each one works.
By uploading an unencrypted PDF and configuring the appropriate security options in Addo Sign, you can protect your documents while ensuring they can be processed and signed successfully.