Protect a PDF with a password
Lock a document so only people with the password can open it.
- 1Add a PDF.
- 2Choose a password.
- 3Download the encrypted PDF.
Good things start with a file.
Drop PDFs or images here, or choose from your device.
Rendering page previews…
This PDF looks password-protected, so we can't show page previews here. Type the page numbers instead, or unlock it first.
Add at least two PDFs to merge.
This tool is still in development. You can arrange files locally; nothing is uploaded until it opens.
Files are uploaded over an encrypted, single-use link, processed on our own servers and deleted within one hour.
Need a different tool?
Try “merge”, “JPG to PDF” or “sign”. We list PDF tools we are building, not every format pair.
Real encryption
AES-256, the current PDF standard. The content is encrypted, not merely hidden behind a prompt.
Restricted permissions
Copying text, editing and form filling are disabled for viewers that honour permissions.
Your password never lingers
It is encrypted while the job runs and deleted the moment the job finishes. We cannot recover it.
Protect a PDF with a password: what to expect
Password protection answers one question: can someone who finds this file open it? With AES-256 and a decent password, no. It does not stop someone who has the password from sharing it, and it does not prove who created the document; that is what signatures are for.
Choose a password you can pass on safely, ideally through a different channel than the file itself. Because the password is the key, losing it means losing access; we keep no copy and cannot help.
Permissions such as “no copying” rely on viewers cooperating. Most do, some do not. Treat them as a courtesy, not a guarantee.
Questions, answered
- What encryption is used?
- AES-256 (PDF 2.0, revision 6), the strongest standard option.
- Can you recover a lost password?
- No. We do not keep it. Keep it somewhere safe.
- Can I set different open and edit passwords?
- Not yet. One password both opens the file and owns it.
- Does it work on any PDF?
- Any unencrypted PDF. Already protected files must be unlocked first.
- Will old viewers open it?
- Anything from the last decade does. Very old viewers may not support AES-256.