Before you email an ID proof, bank details or a contract, lock it so only people with the password can open it. This tool uses AES-256, the strongest encryption PDFs support, and runs entirely in your browser, so the unlocked file is never sent anywhere. You can also block printing, copying text and editing.
loading toolHow to password-protect a PDF
- Choose the PDF to lock.
- Type a password twice and choose what readers may do.
- Press Protect PDF and download the locked copy.
Good to know
- Send the password by a different route than the file (for example, file by email and password by phone).
Questions
How strong is the protection?
AES-256 cannot be broken by guessing if the password is long. A short password like 1234 can be guessed quickly by special software, so use at least 8 characters with a mix of letters and numbers.
I forgot the password. Can you recover it?
No one can: the password is not stored anywhere. Keep a copy of the original unlocked file.
Do print and copy limits always work?
Good PDF readers obey them, but some programs ignore them. The open password is the real protection.
Is my data private?
Yes. Everything happens inside your own browser: nothing you type or choose is uploaded to us or anyone else.
Is it free?
Completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many times you use it. Light ads keep the site running.
