Protect PDF with a Password
Add a password so only people you share it with can open your PDF. Uses strong AES-256 encryption, with optional limits on printing, copying and editing.
Drop a PDF here or
Your file and password never leave your device. Encryption happens in this browser tab.
How to password protect a PDF
- Drop a PDF onto the box or click "Choose PDF".
- Type the password people will need to open it, twice. Untick anything you do not want readers to do, such as printing or copying.
- Click "Protect PDF". The encrypted copy downloads; share the password separately from the file, for example by text message.
Real encryption, not just a lock icon
The PDF is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest method in the PDF standard and the same one Adobe Acrobat uses. Without the password, the pages cannot be read at all. Every major reader supports it: Adobe Reader, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, macOS Preview and the iPhone and Android PDF viewers. Choose AES-128 only if the recipient uses a PDF reader from before about 2010.
Use a long password that is not used anywhere else. A passphrase of four random words is easy to type and hard to guess; our Password Generator can make one. There is no way to recover a forgotten PDF password, so store it in a password manager.
About restrictions
Restrictions on printing, copying and editing are honored by mainstream PDF readers, but they are a polite request rather than strong protection, because some software ignores them. The open password is what really protects the content. If you set restrictions, the optional permissions password lets you lift them later; if you leave it blank, a random one is used and the restrictions cannot be changed.
Need a different tool? Suggest it here — we read every message.
Frequently asked questions
Is my password or file uploaded?
No. Encryption runs entirely in your browser. Neither the PDF nor the password is sent anywhere.
How strong is the protection?
AES-256 with a good password cannot be broken by guessing in any practical time. A short or common password can be, so use a long one.
What if I forget the password?
It cannot be recovered, by us or anyone else. Keep your original unprotected file, or store the password in a password manager.
Can I remove the password later?
Yes. Use Unlock PDF with the password to save an unprotected copy.
What is the permissions password?
A second, optional password that allows changing or lifting the print, copy and edit restrictions. It is not needed to open the file.