How to Enable Protected View feature for PDFs in Adobe's Acrobat Reader

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

How to Enable Protected View feature for PDFs in Adobe's Acrobat Reader

2. Enable Protected View feature for PDFs

By default, Adobe Reader DC runs in protected mode to provide an added layer of security. In protected mode, malicious PDF documents can’t launch arbitrary executable files or write to system directories or the Windows Registry.

To check the status of protected mode, choose File > Properties > Advanced > Protected Mode.

Protected mode is enabled by default. To specify the settings, do the following:

• Choose Edit > Preferences.

• In the Categories list on the left, select Security (Enhanced).

• In the Sandbox Protections section, select or deselect Enable Protected Mode At Startup.
•  
• Enable Create Protected Mode Log File to record events. The changes take effect the next time you start the application.
• Click View Log to open the log file.
•  

Protected mode

By default, Adobe Reader DC runs in protected mode to provide an added layer of security. In protected mode, malicious PDF documents can’t launch arbitrary executable files or write to system directories or the Windows Registry.

To check the status of protected mode, choose File > Properties > Advanced > Protected Mode.

Protected mode is enabled by default. To specify the settings, do the following:

• Choose Edit > Preferences.

• In the Categories list on the left, select Security (Enhanced).

• In the Sandbox Protections section, select or deselect Enable Protected Mode At Startup.
•  
• Enable Create Protected Mode Log File to record events. The changes take effect the next time you start the application.
• Click View Log to open the log file.

Protected view

For additional security and to avoid potential security risks associated with files that may have originated from unsafe locations, use the Protected View mode. In the Protected View mode, most features are disabled. You can view the PDF, but not do much else.

In the Protected View, a yellow bar displays on top of the Reader DC  window. Click Enable All Features to exit the Protected View.  

To modify when the Protected View is used, do the following:

1. Choose Edit > Preferences.
2. In the Categories list on the left, select Security (Enhanced).
3. In the Sandbox Protections area, select an option for Protected View:
4. Off
5. Files From Potentially Unsafe Locations
6. All Files