Stamp protected PDF exhibits
Permission restrictions do not have to interrupt your exhibit preparation. Add your PDF; enter a password only if one is needed to open it.
Open the stamping tool →Preview before paying. An eligible existing license can cover your download.
Two kinds of PDF protection
- Restrictions on editing or printing
- Often called an owner or permissions password. ExhibitPrep ignores supported restrictions automatically so you can add exhibit stamps.
- A password needed to open the PDF
- You must supply the opening password. ExhibitPrep cannot recover an unknown password.
From protected PDF to reviewed exhibit
Add your PDF
Select your file in ExhibitPrep. Supported permission restrictions are ignored automatically so the document can be stamped.
Enter an opening password, if asked
If the PDF requires a password to open, enter that document password and choose Unlock PDF. You do not need to enter an owner or permissions password for a supported PDF that opens without one.
Resolve any file that could not be added
Choose Help with this PDF for recovery options. If you do not know the opening password, ask the source. Use Retry file in Upload review to select the original or a replacement copy.
Review your exhibit
Choose the stamp and label, check its placement, and review the pages before downloading. A file left in Upload review is not part of the finished set.
Privacy & Security Considerations
ExhibitPrep Processes Locally
Decryption and stamping run on your device. ExhibitPrep does not upload your document for this processing. This does not control third-party browsers or other software on your computer. Read the document privacy guide.
Keep the original
Stamping creates a separate output. Keep the original, review the finished pages, and only modify documents you are authorized to use.
Opens in a new tab so your work stays here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ExhibitPrep stamp permission-restricted PDFs?
Yes. ExhibitPrep ignores supported owner-password restrictions on editing or printing so you can stamp the PDF as an exhibit. If no password is required to open it, you do not need to enter its permissions password. Unsupported or damaged PDFs may still fail to load.
When will I be asked for a password?
When a password is required to open the PDF. Enter that document password, not your ExhibitPrep license key. The password is used locally to unlock the file and is not sent to our servers.
What if I don't know the opening password?
ExhibitPrep cannot recover an unknown opening password. Ask the document source for that password or an unprotected copy. You can retry the file later or explicitly exclude it from your exhibit set.
Does stamping change the protected original?
ExhibitPrep prepares a separate output and does not overwrite the original file you selected. Keep your original. Do not assume the stamped output retains password protection; review the output and the receiving organization’s requirements before sharing it.
What if the correct password does not work?
Check capitalization and spaces with the document source. If the file still will not open here, choose Help with this PDF for the protected-PDF guide, including desktop application options and a structured issue report. Do not include passwords or confidential contents in your report.
Does ExhibitPrep upload the PDF to unlock it?
No. Document decryption and stamping run on your device. Account, purchase, and service information are handled separately. This describes ExhibitPrep’s processing; it does not control your browser, extensions, operating system, or other software. See the document privacy guide for details.