Protect PDF
Add a password to a PDF so only people who know it can open the file, and choose whether they may print, copy or edit. It uses AES-256 encryption and runs in your browser, so neither your file nor your password is uploaded.
Also searched as: password protect pdf · encrypt pdf · add password to pdf · lock pdf · secure pdf
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How to use it
- 1
Add your PDF
Choose or drop the PDF you want to protect.
- 2
Set a password
Type it twice so a typo cannot lock you out, and pick what people may do.
- 3
Download
Save the protected copy. It asks for the password when opened.
Questions about protect pdf
How strong is the protection?
The file is encrypted with AES-256, the same standard current versions of Adobe Acrobat use. A strong password matters most: use at least 8 characters with a mix of letters and numbers.
What if I forget the password?
The file cannot be opened without it, and we never see or store it, so it cannot be recovered. Keep a note of it somewhere safe.
Is my file or password uploaded?
No. Encryption happens in your browser and both stay on your device.
Choosing a good password
The strength of a protected PDF depends almost entirely on its password. Use at least 12 characters, ideally a phrase of several unrelated words, and do not reuse a password from an email or banking account. The Password Generator on this site can create one for you.
Send the password by a different route than the file. If you email the PDF, give the password by phone call or in a messaging app, so one intercepted message does not reveal both.
What protection does and does not do
The file is encrypted with AES-256 inside your browser; neither the file nor the password is ever sent to us. Anyone opening it needs the password. You can also restrict printing, copying and editing, but these permissions are enforced by the PDF viewer, so treat them as a deterrent and rely on the password for real security.
There is no way for us to recover a forgotten password, because we never see it. Keep an unprotected copy somewhere safe.
Guides
How to convert a Word document to PDF
Turn a DOCX, DOC, ODT or RTF file into a PDF that looks the same everywhere. Free, no Word needed, no sign-up.
How to password protect a PDF
Add a password to a PDF so only the right people can open it. Encrypted in your browser, never uploaded.
How to add a watermark to a PDF
Stamp text such as CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT across every page of a PDF. Control opacity, angle and size. Free and private.
How to create a strong password
What makes a password strong, how long it should be, and how to generate a random one safely in your browser.