Password-protect a PDF

How to protect a PDF with a password

1. Choose a PDF file or drop it on the box.
2. Set a password (type it twice, or press "Make a password for me" and write it down) and choose what is allowed.
3. Press "Set the password and save". The new file needs the password to open.

Your files stay on your device

This tool opens the file from your device, encrypts it in your browser's memory and saves the new file back to your device. The password you type is not sent anywhere or kept: close the page and it is gone. Your original file is not changed.

Good to know

• If the password is lost, nobody can recover the file. Keep your original, unlocked file somewhere safe too.
• AES-256 is strong, but real security depends on your password. Use a long one that is hard to guess (the button makes a random 16-character one).
• A "no printing" or "no copying" setting is a request that PDF readers are asked to respect, and some do not. Anyone who can open the file can read it, so do not use restrictions in place of encryption.
• Text in the file, including its properties (author, title), is encrypted; the file name you share is still visible.
• Thai passwords work with AES-256. Some readers, or very old ones, may not accept non-Latin passwords: if you send the file to someone, test it first, or use Latin letters and digits.
• A file that is already locked must be unlocked first.

Report a problem or suggest an idea

Found a problem, or want this tool to do more? Tell us on the feedback page. No sign-up needed.