Protect PDF with a password
Encrypt your PDF with a password and decide whether it can be printed, copied or edited. Free and private.
Add your PDF
Drag it here or choose it on your device. One PDF at a time.
Powered by qpdf, open-source software (Apache License 2.0). License notices
Your files stay on your deviceThey are processed in your browser. We never upload or store them.
How it works
- Add your PDF: drag it onto the page or choose it on your device.
- Type the password twice and choose what can be done with the document: print it, copy its content or edit it.
- Press "Protect PDF" and download the encrypted file. Everything happens in your browser. Keep the password: we do not store it and it cannot be recovered.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to add a password to a PDF?
Yes. You do not need an account or to install anything, and the protected PDF has no watermarks.
Are my PDF or my password uploaded to a server?
No. The PDF is encrypted in your browser, on your own device, so we never receive or store your document or your password. That makes it a good option for contracts, payslips or personal documents.
What encryption does it use?
256-bit AES, the strongest the PDF format supports. Current PDF readers open it; some very old programs may not.
Can I stop the PDF from being printed, copied or edited?
Yes. You can allow or not printing, copying the text and images, and editing, commenting or filling in forms. By default only printing is allowed. Most PDF readers respect these restrictions, but they are not a guarantee: some programs ignore them. What protects the content is the password that opens it.
What happens if I forget the password?
We cannot recover it: it is not stored anywhere, and the encryption is designed so the content cannot be opened without the password. Keep it in a password manager and keep the original PDF too.
Which password should I choose?
A long one that is hard to guess: the more characters and the more varied, the better. The tool shows an estimate of its strength. If you need one, you can make it with this site's password generator. If you use accents or uncommon symbols, check afterwards that your PDF reader accepts the password, because some treat those characters differently.
Can I protect a PDF that already has a password?
First its current protection has to be removed with the "Unlock PDF" tool (if you know its password), and then you can protect it with the new one.
Does it change the content of the PDF?
No. The content of the pages is kept without being compressed again: it is only encrypted. If the PDF had a digital signature, it will no longer be valid, because the file changes.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. It works in any current browser, on a computer, phone or tablet. Very large PDFs can be slow or fail if the browser runs out of memory, especially on a phone.