Password protect a PDF

Add a password to the PDF before emailing it or uploading it to cloud storage: without the password nobody can open it.

Your files stay on your device: no uploads, no sign-up.

How to password protect a PDF

  1. Open the PDF.
  2. Type the password twice.
  3. Optionally block printing, copying or editing too.
  4. Press Protect and download.

Send the password through a different channel from the file: for example the PDF by email and the password by phone or text message.

Frequently asked questions

How secure is it?

The file is encrypted with 256-bit AES, the standard for modern PDFs. Security mostly depends on the password: use at least 10 characters, ideally a phrase that is easy for you to remember.

If I forget the password, can it be recovered?

No. The password isn’t stored anywhere, not even on the site: keep a copy of the original file without a password.

Is my password sent anywhere?

No: encryption happens in your browser. Neither the file nor the password goes over the internet.

Was it useful?

These tools are free and without intrusive ads. If you’d like to help me keep them running, you can leave a small contribution.