Password Protect a PDF
Lock a PDF so only people with the password can open it. The file is encrypted with AES-256, and you can also stop it from being printed, copied or edited.
How to password protect a PDF
- 1Choose the PDF.
- 2Type a password twice and choose what people may do with the file.
- 3Click “Protect PDF” and download the protected file.
Strong encryption
The PDF is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest standard PDF encryption, which every current PDF reader supports. A long password of several words is far harder to guess than a short one.
Printing, copying and editing
Turning these off sets the PDF's permissions. Adobe Acrobat, browsers and most readers respect them, but they're a request rather than a lock: some apps ignore them.
Your password stays with you
The PDF is encrypted in your browser, so neither the file nor the password is ever sent to us. That also means nobody can recover a forgotten password.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it free?
- Yes. There's no signup, no watermark and no limit on the number of files.
- Is my password sent anywhere?
- No. The password and the PDF stay on your device; the file is encrypted in your browser.
- Can I change the password of a protected PDF?
- Yes. Open it with its current password, type a new one and save.
- I forgot the password. Can you open it?
- No. We never see your password, and AES-256 can't be broken by guessing a good one.