You set a password on a PDF and ticked a box that said 'restrict printing'. Now the recipient can open the file but can't print it. There are two passwords doing two different jobs.
User password (open password)
The user password — sometimes called the open password — is the one that prompts the recipient when they open the file. Without it, the PDF is unreadable bytes.
This is the password you set when you want to control *access* to the document. It's the more important of the two for confidentiality.
Owner password (permissions password)
The owner password — sometimes called the permissions or master password — controls what someone can *do* with the file after they've opened it. You use it to restrict printing, copying text, editing, filling forms, and similar permissions.
A PDF can have both. Open password lets you in; owner password gates further actions. Acrobat respects owner-password restrictions; not every PDF viewer does.
When to use which
Set a user password when you don't want unauthorised people to read the document — confidential contracts, salary information, medical records.
Set an owner password when you want to discourage casual editing or copying — branded PDFs you don't want re-used, exam papers, draft documents. Recognise that owner-password restrictions are easy to strip with the right tool; they discourage, they don't enforce. Flint's password tool lets you set both.
FAQ
Can I set an owner password without a user password?
Yes. The file opens without prompting but restrictions apply once open. Many corporate PDFs work this way.
Can I set a user password without an owner password?
Yes. The file is encrypted at open; once decrypted, no further restrictions apply.
Which password do I need to remove restrictions?
The owner password. With it, you can edit, print and copy freely. Without it, you're stuck with the restrictions — or you use a tool like Flint's unlock if you legitimately own the file.
Are owner-password restrictions strong?
Cryptographically yes, practically easy to bypass — many tools simply ignore them. Treat them as polite signposts, not enforcement.
Pick the right password for the right job. Set yours in Flint.