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Error Solved – The File is Protected. It Cannot be Used for this Command

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Published By Nilesh Kumar
Aswin Vijayan
Approved By Aswin Vijayan
Published On March 14th, 2023
Reading Time 4 Minutes Reading

Nowadays, everyone has heard of this popular document format i.e. PDF. Basically, it is a Portable Document Format which can be easily opened and shared with everyone. These files are platform-independent and can be easily opened on any Windows Operating System. It maintains original fonts, images, graphics as well as the exact layout of the document. But, when a user tries to insert a protected PDF into another PDF, then, they found an error i.e. The File is Protected. It Cannot be Used for this Command. Let’s understand more clearly by user queries.

insert protected pdf into another pdf

Users Query 1: “A few days back when I tried to create PDF from multiple files I was encountered with an error message i.e.”PDF is protected it cannot be used for this command.” I don’t know the reason behind this error. Is there any step I am missing while performing this process. The PDF file which is to be inserted contains 100 pages with tags and bookmarks. Does anyone know the solution to this problem?”

User Query2: I have a master PDF document and I need to insert a PDF containing 5 pages into it. The main problem is when I go to add the PDF to the master document, an error message prompts. Can anyone help me to fix the error? Thanks in Advance!!” 

When User Find – The File is Protected. It Cannot be Used for this Command

Basically, the main reason behind this error is the security of PDF document. When files are restricted for document assembly protection then, users encounter this error message. Apart from document assembly, other restrictions added to PDF files are a copy, print, edit, extract, signature and comment restrictions. Therefore, in order to insert protected PDF into another PDF, it is needed to remove security.

Resolution of the Error Message

To solve the “PDF is protected it cannot be used for this command” error it is necessary to remove PDF restrictions. For that we have provided 2 simple solutions:

1- Instant Professional Tool

2- Using Acrobat Pro DC Program

Solution #1 Use Instant Solution to Fix the Error

With PDF Unlocker Tool you can instantly resolve this error message because this software helps in removing PDF security. Once the file becomes unsecured by the utility, different PDF file permissions get enabled. Moreover, any operation like print, copy, edit, sign, comments will be allowed by the program. For removing the PDF file security follow these simple steps:

1- Download and Run the software to avoid this “PDF is protected it cannot be used for this command” error.

the file is protected

2- Click the Add Files/ button to select and insert the PDF file.

insert files to unlock pdf

3- View the restrictions present in the PDF document. Select the Save or Print option.

choose to save or print the file

4- Then set the location for saving the unlocked PDF file and click the Unlock PDF button to start the process and eliminate the error “pdf is protected it cannot be used for this command”.

the file is protected issue solved

Solution #2 Use Acrobat Program to Solve the Error

In order to fix the error The File is Protected. It Cannot be Used for this Command there are some useful steps which can be followed by the user:

1. Open the Adobe Acrobat Pro application

2. After that, open the secured PDF file

3. Navigate towards the secured padlock icon

4. After this, select the option ‘Show security setting for this document’

5. Security Method will show four different options such as:

a) No Security

b) Change Security

c) Certificate Security

d) Adobe Policy Server

6. Select “No Security” option if you wish to remove security

7. After this enter the permission password and save the PDF document

Once you followed the above steps all the restrictions are removed from the PDF document.

Also Read: Simple Techniques to Fix “Format error: not a PDF or Corrupted” Error

Conclusion

Security is a major concern among users so users protect their files by adding restrictions. But, at times it is needed to remove restrictions in PDF file because due to security users are unable to work properly with PDF file. Here, in this blog, we have seen that when a user tries top insert protected PDF into another PDF they found error message The File is Protected. It Cannot be Used for this Command. Therefore, in order to fix the error, firstly users should remove security and then perform document assembly.