Protect PDF
Add a password so only the people you share it with can open the file.
Your files stay on your device. Everything runs in this browser tab. Nothing is uploaded.
( How it works )
Protect PDF in three steps
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01
Drop the PDF you want to protect.
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02
Set a password and choose what people can do once it is open.
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03
Download the protected copy and share the password separately.
( FAQ )
Good questions
How do I put a password on a PDF?
Drop the file here, type the password twice and choose Protect PDF. The downloaded copy asks for that password every time it opens.
How strong is the encryption?
Files are encrypted with AES-256, the strongest encryption in the PDF standard, and it works in every modern PDF reader.
What if I forget the password?
It cannot be recovered, by this tool or anyone else. Keep it somewhere safe, like a password manager.
Do printing and copying restrictions really work?
Most PDF readers respect them, but some apps ignore them. The password is what actually keeps the file private.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The tool runs entirely in your browser, so your file is processed on your own device and never sent to a server. Nothing is stored after you close the tab.
( Design notes )
One password, not two
PDFs have two passwords: one to open the file and an “owner” one to change its restrictions. Most tools ask for both, which confuses people. Here you set only the password you’ll share; the owner one is generated randomly behind the scenes.
Restrictions are phrased as what people can do, all on by default, so you switch off only what you mean to. The form is also honest that some readers ignore them.
Files are encrypted with AES-256 by qpdf, running as WebAssembly in a background worker. Neither the file nor the password leaves this tab.
( PDF tools )
More tools
Organize PDF
Merge files, reorder, rotate, delete or pull out pages, all on one canvas.
Sign PDF
Draw or type a signature and place it anywhere on the page.
Unlock PDF
Enter the password you already know and save a copy without it.
Compress PDF
Shrink heavy files so they fit in email and chat uploads.