How to password protect a PDF for free
Quick answer
Upload the PDF, set a password, and download the protected copy - it uses real 256-bit AES encryption, the same standard Adobe Acrobat uses, and the file never leaves your browser.
- 1Upload the PDF.
- 2Set a password.
- 3Download the protected file.
Free, no sign-up, and your file is read on your own device rather than uploaded.
A password-protected PDF cannot be opened by anyone who does not know the password, which matters for anything sensitive you are emailing or sharing - a contract, a financial statement, an ID document. Adobe Acrobat can do this, but it is not the only option, and does not require installing or paying for anything.
This applies real PDF encryption (256-bit AES), not a superficial lock - the same underlying standard used by dedicated PDF software, applied entirely in your browser so the file and the password you set are never uploaded anywhere.
Step by step
Set and confirm a password
This is the password anyone, including you, will need to open the file from now on.
PDF Password Protect & RemoveDownload the protected file
A new copy - the original, unprotected file is untouched.
Tips
- Store the password somewhere you will find it later - there is no way to recover a forgotten password on a properly encrypted PDF, by design.
- Send the password to the recipient through a different channel than the file itself (a text message rather than the same email) if the whole point is protecting it in transit.
Common problems
Forgot the password after protecting a PDF.
There is no built-in recovery for genuinely encrypted PDF passwords - this is what makes the encryption meaningful. Keep the password somewhere safe when you set it.
Frequently asked questions
- What encryption does this use?
- 256-bit AES, the current standard also used by Adobe Acrobat and most professional PDF software.
- Is the file uploaded to a server to protect it?
- No - the encryption happens entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. The file and the password you choose are never sent anywhere.
- Can I remove the password later if I change my mind?
- Yes - the same tool removes a password when you already know it.
Related PDF tools
- PDF Password Protect & RemoveAdd a password so a PDF cannot be opened without it, or take one off a PDF you already have the password for.
- Sign PDFDraw or type a signature and place it on a page.
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Ready to do it?
Free, no sign-up, and nothing is uploaded to a server.