Password-Protect a PDF and Upload It to SharePoint using PDF.co & Make

Step 1: Check the Source Download URL

The configuration below uses Import PDF from URL. That URL must return the actual source PDF to PDF.co without an interactive Microsoft sign-in.

Test with a file approved for the chosen sharing method. A SharePoint preview page is not the same as a direct file-download URL. Do not make an entire SharePoint site public just to run this example.

If your organization does not allow externally accessible file URLs, do not continue with this URL-based configuration. Use an approved authenticated file-transfer workflow instead.

Step 2: Image of the Complete Workflow

Step 3: Create a New Scenario and Set Up SharePoint’s Watch Files/Folders as Trigger

Step 4: Configure the Module with the Site and Folder Details

Step 5: Run the Module to Verify it Returns a File

Step 6: Add the PDF.co Add Password and Security Module

Step 7: Configure the PDF Security Module

• Set "Import PDF from URL" as the Input Type.
• Use "Download URL" as the URL field value.
• Enter your Owner Password and User Password.
• Customize additional security settings as needed.
• Test the step to ensure the PDF is correctly password-protected.

Step 8: Upload the Protected PDF to SharePoint using its Upload a File Module

Step 9: Save to a Separate Output Folder

Choose a SharePoint destination folder outside the scope of the Watch Files/Folders trigger. This prevents the protected copy from being picked up as a new input.

In the PDF.co password-protection module, set Export Type to Download a File. Then configure SharePoint’s upload step to use:

• Destination: The separate output folder.
• File content: Data from the completed PDF.co protection step.
• File name: The protected PDF’s output filename, including .pdf.

Use the protected output, not the original SharePoint file.

Run one test input through the scenario. Open the saved SharePoint copy and confirm that it requires the intended user password. Check that the uploaded output does not start another processing cycle before enabling the schedule.

Step 10: Run the Scenario and Turn on Automation

1. Run the entire scenario to test the full workflow.
2. Verify that the PDF is:
   • Password-protected
   • Successfully uploaded to the correct SharePoint folder
3. Once everything works correctly, turn on automation to process files automatically.