Is the Protect PDF tool free?

Yes, completely free with no signup required.

Your PDF and password are sent to our server over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection, the encryption is applied there with qpdf, and the original and protected files are deleted once the protected PDF has been returned to you. We do not keep copies and no account is needed. Because the file and password are processed on a server, avoid using this for documents you are not comfortable sending over the internet.

What encryption strength does this use?

The tool applies 256-bit AES encryption via qpdf, compatible with Adobe Acrobat and all modern PDF viewers.

What do the permission checkboxes do?

Unchecked permissions are disabled for anyone opening the PDF with the user password. Only the owner password holder can override these restrictions. By default, printing, copying, and editing are all disabled.

What if I forget the password?

There is no recovery option. Make sure you save the password in a safe place before downloading the protected PDF.

PDF Tools

Password Protect PDF Online Free

Lock any PDF with a password in seconds. Your file is sent securely to our server, encrypted, and deleted afterwards. Free, no signup.

Secure processingInstantNo signup

🔒 Your file and password are sent over an encrypted connection to our server, protected there, and deleted afterwards.

Drop a PDF here or click to browse

Single file · max 50 MB

Open password *

Viewers must enter this password to open the PDF.

Permissions

Allow printingAllow copying textAllow editing

How to Password Protect a PDF

1
Upload your PDF
Click the upload zone or drag and drop your PDF. The file is sent over an encrypted connection to our server for processing and is deleted afterwards (max 50 MB).
2
Set a password and permissions
Enter the open password viewers will need. Optionally add an owner (permissions) password and choose which actions to allow.
3
Download the protected PDF
Click "Protect PDF" and download the password-protected file. Test it by opening it in a PDF viewer and entering your password.

PDF password protection is the standard way to control who can open sensitive documents — contracts, financial records, personal information — before sharing them by email or cloud storage. When you click Protect PDF, your file and the passwords you entered are uploaded over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection to our server, where qpdf applies 256-bit AES encryption. The protected PDF is sent back to your browser, and the uploaded file and the protected copy are deleted from the server afterwards. Uploads are limited to 50 MB.

Open password vs owner password: The open password (also called the user password) is required for any viewer to open the document. The owner password (permissions password) is a separate credential used to change permissions or remove encryption. If you leave the owner password blank, it defaults to the open password.

Permissions: By default all permissions are disabled — recipients can read the PDF but cannot print, copy, or edit it. Check the boxes above to grant specific permissions.

Important: Store your password in a password manager. There is no way to recover a lost password from a PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions

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