Password Protect PDF

Drag the file onto the drop zone, or click Select PDF File.

Enter a password in Open Password, watch the strength meter, and confirm it. Add an optional hint if you want a reminder (it isn't saved in the file).

Open Advanced Options to add an Owner Password, choose AES-256 or AES-128, and toggle Allow Printing, Allow Copying, and Allow Editing.

Click Protect PDF, then Download Protected PDF to save the encrypted file.

Upload the PDF, type a password in the Open Password field, and confirm it. Click Protect PDF, then download the encrypted file. From then on, anyone opening it must enter that password. Everything happens in your browser, so the document isn't uploaded while it's being encrypted.

The Open Password is required to open the document at all — it's the main lock. The Owner Password (under Advanced Options) lets the file open but controls permissions like printing, copying, and editing. Use the Open Password to keep a file private, and the Owner Password when you want people to read it but limit what they can do.

The tool uses AES-256 by default, the same standard used for highly sensitive data; with a strong password it's effectively impossible to brute-force with today's technology. AES-128 is offered for compatibility with older PDF readers and is still strong. The encryption is only as good as your password, so choose a long one.

Open Advanced Options, set an Owner Password, and use the Allow Printing, Allow Copying, and Allow Editing toggles. Untick an action to disallow it. The file will still open normally, but readers are limited to what you've permitted — useful for review copies you don't want freely reused.

They're useful, but honest answer: permission restrictions aren't enforced as strongly as the open password, and determined users with the right tools can strip them. They work well to discourage casual printing or copying. For information that genuinely must stay private, rely on the open password and AES-256 encryption, not just permissions.

Length matters most. Aim for 16+ characters, or a passphrase of four or five random words — these are far harder to crack than a short, complex password. Avoid names, dates, or common words. The strength meter gives you live feedback as you type, so push it into the strong range before protecting the file.

Yes, and no upload happens. The encryption runs entirely in your browser, so the PDF — and the password — never leave your device or reach a server. That's important, because the files you protect are usually the sensitive ones. Closing the tab clears everything from memory.

No. The encryption is done locally and nothing — not the file, not the password — is stored anywhere, so there's no way to recover or reset it. A strong AES-256 password can't be bypassed by design. Save it in a password manager, and keep an unprotected backup of important documents somewhere safe.

No. The optional hint is only there to jog your memory in the tool and is not saved into the PDF file, so it won't travel with the document or weaken its security. Treat the hint as a private reminder, and still keep the actual password somewhere safe.

Yes. The tool works in any modern browser on iPhone or Android, with no app to install. Open the page, upload your PDF, set a password and any restrictions, and download the encrypted file. This is handy on mobile, where built-in password protection is limited or unavailable.

Yes. Protecting a PDF is free, no account is required, and nothing is stamped onto your document. You upload, set a password, and download a clean, encrypted file — no paywall before the download.

Use our Unlock PDF tool. You'll need to enter the password you set, since unlocking removes protection from files you can open rather than cracking them. It's common to protect a file for sharing, then unlock your own copy later to edit it.