Protect PDF
Add a password and set user permissions for a PDF file.
FREE - NO SIGN-UP - RUNS ON YOUR DEVICE
Your PDFs stay on your device
- Passwordto open
- Restrictprinting
- Restrictcopying
- Privateencryption
What you can count on
- 0files uploaded
- Encryption happens in your browser
- Your document remains private
- 100%browser based
- No server processing is involved
- Get instant results without queues
- 1password
- We never see your password
- It cannot be recovered if lost
Protect PDF at a glance
- Passwords
- Open password, owner optional
- Permissions
- Printing, copying, editing, comments
- Encryption
- AES-256
- Already protected
- Refused; unlock it first
- Metadata handling
- Not carried into the encrypted file
- Where it runs
- In your browser tab
- Price
- Free
- Account required
- No
How to use Protect PDF
- 1
Add Your PDF
Drag and drop your PDF file onto the page, or click to select a file from your computer. The protection options will become available.
- 2
Set Password and Permissions
Enter a strong password. You can also choose to restrict actions like printing, copying text, and modifying the document.
- 3
Download the Protected PDF
Click the download button to save a new, encrypted PDF file. You will need the password to open it. Your original file is not changed.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of encryption is used?
AES-256, applied in your browser tab. The password builds the key here on your device and is never sent anywhere.
What happens if I forget the password?
We cannot recover it. The password is part of the encryption key and is never sent to us. Be sure to store it safely.
Can I set different opening and permission passwords?
Yes. The first password opens the file; the optional owner password controls the permissions. Leave the second empty and the first does both jobs.
What happens if I switch to another tab while it works?
The work pauses and picks up where it left off when you come back. Browsers throttle hidden tabs, so a job left running in the background would slow to a crawl or stall outright.
Securing Your PDF Documents
Secure your PDF by adding a password required to open it. You can also set separate permissions to restrict printing, copying text, or modifying the document.
- Password-protect a PDF when sharing sensitive information. This ensures only authorized individuals with the password can access the document's contents.
- Setting permissions gives you more control. You can prevent recipients from printing, copying text, or making changes to maintain document integrity.
Full specification
| Passwords | One password to open the file, plus an owner password for the permissions if you want one. |
|---|---|
| Permissions | Printing, copying text, editing and comments each have a switch. Printing starts on, the other three start off. |
| Encryption | AES-256. The password is used in your tab and is never sent anywhere. |
| Already protected | A file that already has a password is refused. Unlock it first, then protect it again. |
| Metadata handling | Title, author and subject are not carried into the encrypted file, and the producer field is rewritten by the encryption step. The pages themselves are unchanged. |
| Where it runs | In your browser tab. The file and the password stay on your device. |
| Price | Free |
| Account required | No |
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