Bulk decrypt multiple PDF files

automatorencryptionpdf

I have received a selection of PDF files (about 40) that are all encrypted with the same password. I'd rather not have them be encrypted because it's annoying to enter the password every time and I already have full disk encryption anyways.

How can I decrypt all of these PDF files without having to manually open and re-save each and every file? I looked in Automator but I only found an option to Encrypt PDF, not Decrypt.

Best Answer

I'd use a third-party utility named qpdf that can be compiled from source, or installed via Homebrew, i.e.:

brew install qpdf

Then change directory to where the encrypted PDF files are, assuming they are in a directory by themselves, and use the following compound command, e.g.:

for f in *.[pP][dD][fF]; do qpdf --decrypt --password=password "${f}" "${f%.*}-decrypted.${f##*.}"; done

Related Solutions

AppleScript or Automator Workflow for Bulk-Converting Powerpoint Presentations to Keynote

I couldn't figure out how to get Automator to do it, but I was able to beat AppleScript into submission. Just save the following as an Application in the AppleScript Editor, then drag the files you want to convert onto the icon. It will prompt you to choose a folder where the converted files will be placed.

on open droppedFiles
    set theDestinationFolder to (choose folder with prompt "Choose destination folder") as Unicode text
    repeat with theFile in droppedFiles
        tell application "Keynote"
            open theFile
            set theSlideshow to slideshow 1
            set theDestinationPath to theDestinationFolder & (name of theSlideshow)
            save theSlideshow in theDestinationPath
            close theSlideshow
        end tell
    end repeat
end open

(I don't really know what I'm doing with AppleScript. If there are improvements that can be made here, I'd like to know about them.)

How to generate a password-less version of a protected PDF

Open the document in Preview, select File > Duplicate, enter the file location and save a copy.

You can do a similar thing with File > Export.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

AppleScript or Automator Workflow for Bulk-Converting Powerpoint Presentations to Keynote

How to generate a password-less version of a protected PDF

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