# Password-protected PDFs Source: https://www.digiparser.com/docs/guides/parsers/parser-settings/password-protected-pdfs ParsersParser Settings # Password-protected PDFs Save PDF password rules so encrypted PDFs can be processed automatically Copy MarkdownOpen # [Password-protected PDFs](#password-protected-pdfs) Feedback Some PDF files require a password before they can be opened. Use **Password-protected PDFs** to save password rules for a parser so DigiParser can unlock matching PDFs before extracting data. Feedback This is useful when banks, vendors, payroll providers, or other senders regularly send password-protected PDFs with a predictable password pattern. ## [When to use it](#when-to-use-it) Feedback Use **Password-protected PDFs** when: Feedback * A sender regularly sends password-protected PDF statements, invoices, reports, or notices * Different senders or folders use different PDF passwords * A document fails with a message that says the PDF is password protected * You want future matching PDFs to process without entering the password each time ## [How to add a PDF password rule](#how-to-add-a-pdf-password-rule) Feedback 1. Open your parser and go to **Settings -> Parser Settings**. 2. In **Document Processing**, find **Password-protected PDFs**. 3. Click **Add rule**. 4. Enter a **Rule name**, such as `Bank statements` or `Payroll PDFs`. 5. Choose a **Match rule**. 6. Enter the PDF password. 7. Click **Add rule**. 8. Click **Save Parser** if you changed other parser settings on the page. app.digiparser.com![Parser Settings -> Document Processing showing Password-protected PDFs with Add rule button](https://documents.digiparser.com/docs/screenshots/2026-07-23/live-password-protected-pdf-settings.png?sig=1029f6be06c361ca2e6dbe22aca7b14f4f9a5330976fde7283cb17fb994d5326) ## [Match rule options](#match-rule-options) Feedback Each rule decides which PDFs should use a saved password. ### [Default password](#default-password) Feedback Use **Default password** when most password-protected PDFs for this parser use the same password. Feedback Default rules are best when a parser receives documents from one sender or one workflow. ### [Filename starts with](#filename-starts-with) Feedback Use **Filename starts with** when matching files share the same beginning. Feedback **Example**: If bank files are named `Statement_January.pdf`, `Statement_February.pdf`, and `Statement_March.pdf`, use: Feedback * **Match rule**: Filename starts with * **Filename text**: `Statement_` ### [Filename contains](#filename-contains) Feedback Use **Filename contains** when matching files include the same word or phrase anywhere in the file name. Feedback **Example**: If files are named `March payroll report.pdf` and `April payroll summary.pdf`, use: Feedback * **Match rule**: Filename contains * **Filename text**: `payroll` ### [Folder is](#folder-is) Feedback Use **Folder is** when PDFs in a specific folder use a specific password. Feedback This is helpful when you organize documents by sender, department, customer, or document type. ## [Rule order](#rule-order) Feedback If more than one rule matches a PDF, DigiParser tries them in the order shown in the rule list. Feedback Use the up and down buttons to place more specific rules above broad rules. For example: Feedback 1. `Bank ABC statements` - Filename starts with `ABC_` 2. `Bank statements default` - Filename contains `statement` 3. `Default password` Feedback This helps DigiParser try the most likely password first. ## [Editing or removing a rule](#editing-or-removing-a-rule) Feedback To update a rule: Feedback 1. Open **Settings -> Parser Settings**. 2. Find **Password-protected PDFs**. 3. Click the edit button next to the rule. 4. Change the rule name, match rule, or password. 5. Click **Save changes**. Feedback For security, saved passwords are not displayed after they are saved. If you need to change a password, enter the new password in the edit form. Feedback To stop using a rule temporarily, turn off its toggle. To remove it completely, click the delete button. ## [Reprocessing a failed password-protected PDF](#reprocessing-a-failed-password-protected-pdf) Feedback If a document failed before you added a password rule: Feedback 1. Open the failed document. 2. Click **Configure password rules** if it appears in the document panel, or go to **Settings -> Parser Settings -> Document Processing**. 3. Add the matching password rule. 4. Return to the document. 5. Click **Retry processing**. Feedback After the PDF is unlocked, DigiParser processes it using the parser's normal settings. app.digiparser.com![Failed password-protected PDF showing Configure password rules and Retry processing](https://documents.digiparser.com/docs/screenshots/2026-07-23/live-password-protected-pdf-failure.png?sig=b9a0b0c966c0ebe3f097dc8900517e7507a52c6136ea07df1a1f913cad90716d) ## [Tips](#tips) Feedback * Use clear rule names such as `Bank ABC statements` or `Payroll PDFs`. * Put specific filename or folder rules above default rules. * Keep a default rule only when it is safe for most password-protected PDFs received by that parser. * If a saved password stops working, edit the rule and enter the new password. * If different senders use different passwords, create separate rules instead of replacing one shared rule. ## [Next steps](#next-steps) Feedback * [Parsing Configuration](/docs/guides/parsers/parser-settings/parsing-configuration) - Other document processing settings * [Pages to be parsed](/docs/guides/parsers/parser-settings/pages-to-be-parsed) - Limit which PDF pages are extracted * [Split Documents](/docs/guides/parsers/parser-settings/split-documents) - Split large PDFs before extraction * [Processing Failures](/docs/guides/troubleshooting/processing-failures) - Fix documents that fail to process How is this guide? GoodBad [ Pages to be parsed Limit which PDF or email conversation pages are processed ](/docs/guides/parsers/parser-settings/pages-to-be-parsed)[ Configure Email Processing Control which emailed documents a parser accepts and how it handles email bodies ](/docs/guides/parsers/parser-settings/email-processing)