Protect PDF
Encrypt with AES-256 so the PDF needs a password to open. Optionally block printing, copying or editing with a second password.
What Protect PDF does
Protect PDF encrypts a PDF with AES-256 so it can't be opened without a password. You can also restrict printing, copying text, comments and form filling, and editing, controlled by a second permissions password.
How to password protect a PDF
- Drop a PDF on the box above.
- Type the password to open the PDF and confirm it. It needs at least 8 characters; a longer one is much harder to guess.
- Optionally turn on Restrict what others can do, choose the permissions and set a different permissions password. Select Protect PDF.
Settings
| Password to open the PDF | Required, at least 8 characters. Encrypts the whole file with AES-256. |
|---|---|
| Restrict what others can do | Optional. Allow printing, Allow copying text, Allow comments & forms, Allow editing. |
| Permissions password | Needed to change the restrictions later. Must be different from the open password. |
Limits
- Permission restrictions are honored by PDF readers but aren't encryption on their own; the open password is what protects the content.
- If you lose the password, nobody can recover it, including us.
Where your file goes
Encryption runs in this browser tab with pdf-lib. Neither the PDF nor the password is sent to our servers, so we can't see or recover either.
If you're signed in, the result panel also offers Save to My documents. Only that button uploads the file, to your account's storage.
Questions
If I forget the password, can you recover it?
No. The password is used only in your browser and never reaches us. Keep it somewhere safe, such as a password manager.
Do permission restrictions stop everyone?
No. Adobe Reader, Preview and browsers respect them, but some tools ignore them. The open password is real encryption; restrictions are rules for well-behaved software.
What is AES-256?
AES with a 256-bit key, the strongest encryption method in the PDF standard. Its protection depends on your password: a long, unique password can't practically be guessed, while a short one can.
How do I remove the password later?
Use Unlock PDF and type the password once. You get a copy without encryption.