Protect PDF with a Password
Lock a PDF so it can only be opened with a password, which is ideal before emailing contracts, payslips, medical reports or ID documents. You can also stop people printing, copying or editing it.
Free · No sign-up · Files stay on your device
How to use Protect PDF
- 1Choose your PDF.
- 2Enter a password (and type it again to confirm).
- 3Optionally restrict printing, copying and editing.
- 4Click "Protect PDF" and download the encrypted file.
Features
- AES encryption
- Open password required to view
- Optional print, copy and edit restrictions
- Works in every PDF reader
- The file and password never leave your device
How strong is the protection?
The PDF is encrypted with AES, the standard used by banks and governments, so its contents cannot be read without the password. The strength depends mostly on your password: use at least 10 characters with a mix of words, numbers and symbols, or a generated password.
Sharing the password safely
Send the password separately from the file, for example by text message or phone call when the PDF goes by email. If someone intercepts the email, they still cannot open the document.
Frequently asked questions
What if I forget the password?
There is no way to recover it; that is what makes the protection real. Keep an unprotected copy or store the password in a password manager.
Are print and copy restrictions secure?
They are respected by Adobe Reader, browsers and most apps, but some software ignores them. The open password is the real protection.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Encryption happens in your browser, so neither the document nor the password is ever sent anywhere.