PDF Password Protection

Encrypt a PDF with a password using AES-256, right in your browser, with optional printing and copying restrictions.

Runs in your browser. Your input is processed on your device and is not uploaded to our server.

Drop a PDF here or click to choosePDF only, up to 100 MB. Your file and password stay on your device.

We cannot recover a lost password, so keep your original file. Printing and copying limits are requests that PDF software may ignore: only the password protects the contents.

How to use the PDF Password Protection

Drop a PDF.
Enter a strong password, and choose what readers may do.
Download the protected PDF, and keep the password safe.

The file is encrypted with AES-256, using the PDF 2.0 standard security handler, and your password never leaves your browser. If you lose the password, we cannot recover the file, so keep your original too.

Printing and copying restrictions are requests that PDF software chooses to honour, not strong protection: only the password to open the file protects its contents. Very old PDF readers may not open AES-256 files.

Frequently asked questions

Is the password sent anywhere?

No. Encryption runs on your device.

Can you recover a lost password?

No. We never see it, and strong encryption has no back door.

How long should the password be?

At least 12 characters. A short password can be guessed by anyone with a copy of the file.