Adobe Acrobat is an excellent PDF editor that offers a range of tools and functionalities to enhance your PDF documents. Adding signature ensures that your document is secured, and it can only be viewed by the intended recipient. If you’ve recently changed your password and forgetting that password, you will not be able to access your signature anymore. In this article, you will learn how to change signature password in Adobe Acrobat.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
To change a signature password in Adobe Acrobat, you need to have the following:
- A computer or laptop
- Adobe Acrobat DC installed
- PDF document with signature field
What Should I Pay Attention to?
Before changing your signature password in Adobe Acrobat, there are some essential things that you should take note of:
- Changing your signature password permanently deletes the previous password.
- You need to authenticate with a previous password to access these password settings.
- When changing your password, ensure that the new password is strong and secure.
Method 1: Changing Signature Password in Adobe Acrobat
Steps:
1. Open the PDF document with signature field in Adobe Acrobat DC.
2. Click on the ‘Tools’ tab located on the right side of the toolbar.
3. Under ‘Tools,’ click on ‘Certificates.’
4. Select ‘Digital IDs’ on the left-hand side pane, then click ‘Add ID.’
5. On the pop-up window, select ‘A new digital ID I want to create now,’ then click ‘Next.’
6. Choose ‘Windows Certificate Store,’ then click ‘Next.’
7. Enter your new password, then click ‘Finish.’
Pros
- Easy and straightforward process.
- You can use the new password immediately.
- You can create a new digital ID in case you forget your old password.
Cons
- If you forget your old signature password, you won’t be able to change the password using this method.
- You’ll need to create a new digital ID every time you change your password.
- If you don’t have access to the original digital ID, this method won’t work.
Method 2: Changing Signature Password using Digital ID File
Steps:
1. Access the ‘Tools’ tab in Adobe Acrobat.
2. Click on ‘Certificates’ under ‘Tools.’
3. Under ‘Digital IDs’ on the left-hand side pane, select ‘Digitally Sign.’
4. Select ‘Sign As’ and click on the existing digital ID name.
5. Enter the old password, then click the ‘Change Password’ button.
6. Enter the new password, then confirm the new password.
7. Save the updated digital ID file.
Pros
- You don’t need to create a new digital ID every time you change your password.
- Easy and straightforward process.
Cons
- You need to have access to the original digital ID file.
- If you forget your old password or lose the original digital ID file, this method won’t work.
- It is not suitable for a situation where you need your signature password changed frequently.
Method 3: Changing Signature Password using Self-signed Certificate
Steps:
1. Open the PDF document with signature field in Adobe Acrobat.
2. Click on the ‘Tools’ tab located on the right side of the toolbar.
3. Under ‘Tools,’ click on ‘Certificates.’
4. Select ‘Digital IDs’ on the left-hand side pane, then click ‘Add ID.’
5. On the pop-up window, select ‘A new digital ID I want to create now.’
6. Choose ‘Create a self-signed digital ID,’ then click ‘Next.’
7. Enter your new password, then click ‘Finish.’
Pros
- Easy and straightforward process.
- You don’t need to have access to the original digital ID file.
Cons
- You cannot use your self-signed digital ID on other devices.
- You’ll need to create a new digital ID every time you change your password.
- You cannot use a self-signed digital ID for issuing other digital IDs.
Why Can’t I Change Signature Password in Adobe Acrobat?
There are several reasons why you may not be able to change your signature password in Adobe Acrobat. These include:
- You don’t have the correct permissions to change the signature password.
- You are not using the correct digital ID to sign the document.
- You don’t have access to the original digital ID file.
Fixes:
1. Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to change the signature password.
2. Make sure that you are using the correct digital ID file associated with the signature.
3. Retrieve the original digital ID file or create a new digital ID.
Suggestions
Changing your signature password in Adobe Acrobat is a crucial step in protecting your PDF documents. Here are some suggestions to ensure that the process is successful:
- Keep the digital ID file safe and secure.
- Choose a strong password that is hard to guess.
- Test the newly created signature password by signing a document before using it on your official documents.
- Update your signature password periodically to enhance security.
5 FAQs about Changing Signature Password in Adobe Acrobat
Q1. How do I know if my signature is secure?
A1. Adobe Acrobat uses a public key infrastructure (PKI) to ensure that your signature is secure. With PKI, your signature and the document are linked together. Any tampering with the document will break the link, and the signature becomes invalid.
Q2. Can I use the same password for different digital IDs?
A2. No, it is not recommended to use the same password for different digital IDs. Using different passwords enhances security and helps to protect your documents.
Q3. How do I create a strong password?
A3. A strong password should be a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. It should be at least eight characters long and should not contain personal information, such as your name, birth date, or phone number.
Q4. What do I do if I forget my signature password?
A4. If you forget your signature password, you will not be able to access your electronic signature. You can create a new digital ID or retrieve the original digital ID file. Alternatively, you can contact Adobe support for assistance.
Q5. How often should I update my signature password?
A5. It is recommended to update your signature password periodically to enhance security. Consider updating the password every six months or once a year.
Conclusion
Changing your signature password in Adobe Acrobat is a straightforward process. You can do it using any of the methods explained in this article. It’s essential to keep your digital ID file safe and secure and change your signature password regularly to enhance security. You can use the suggestions given in this article to ensure that the process is successful.