Password protect a PDF
Drop a PDF, choose a password, and download an encrypted copy. The file is locked with 256-bit AES encryption entirely in your browser, so your file and your password never leave your device.
About protecting PDFs
Protecting a PDF wraps it in encryption so it cannot be opened without the password you choose. This tool uses 256-bit AES, the strongest standard PDF encryption, applied by qpdf compiled to WebAssembly. You can also set permissions — whether the file can be printed, copied, edited, annotated, or assembled — and an optional separate owner password that governs those permissions while the open password just unlocks the file. Permissions are recorded in the PDF, though some readers choose to ignore them, so treat them as a deterrent rather than a hard lock. Pick a password you can remember, because there is no way to recover the file without it.
Is it private?
Yes. The encryption runs entirely in your browser using qpdf compiled to WebAssembly. Your file and your password are never uploaded, stored, or seen by us, because there is no server to send them to.
Frequently asked questions
- Does my password leave my device?
- No. The encryption runs in your browser using qpdf compiled to WebAssembly. Your password and your file are never sent anywhere, and there is no server involved.
- What kind of encryption is used?
- The PDF is encrypted with 256-bit AES, the strongest standard PDF encryption. Anyone who opens the file afterwards has to enter the password you chose.
- What happens if I forget the password?
- There is no recovery. The whole point of the encryption is that the file cannot be opened without the password, so keep it somewhere safe before you close the tab.
- Is it free, and do I need an account?
- It is free with no watermarks, no daily caps, and no sign-up. Drop a file, choose a password, and download the protected PDF.