Your PDF is protected in your browser. Neither the file nor your password is ever uploaded or stored.
How to password protect a PDF
- Click the box above, or drag and drop your PDF onto it.
- Type a password, then type it again to confirm.
- Choose the encryption type, and optionally limit printing, copying or editing.
- Click Protect PDF, then download your protected file.
Is it safe and private?
Yes. Your PDF is encrypted entirely in your web browser on your own device. The file and your password are never uploaded to a server or stored anywhere, so no one else, including this website, can see them. The page loads two small open-source libraries when it opens, so it needs an internet connection the first time.
After encrypting, the tool tests the new file in your browser. It checks that the file asks for a password and that your password opens it, and it only offers the download if both checks pass.
AES-256 or RC4?
- AES-256 is the strong, modern choice and works in current versions of Adobe Acrobat, Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. Use this unless you have a reason not to.
- RC4 128-bit is an older method with known weaknesses. Choose it only if someone must open the file in a very old PDF reader.
Good to know
- Do not forget your password. There is no way to recover it, and this site never sees it. Keep your original unprotected file as a backup.
- The open password is what protects your content. Limits on printing, copying and editing are respected by most PDF programs, but some tools can ignore them, so do not rely on them for secrets.
- A strong password is long and not a common word. Standard keyboard letters, numbers and symbols work best for compatibility.
- PDFs that are already password-protected cannot be protected again. Remove the old password first.
- You can protect files up to 100 MB. Your original file is never changed.
Shrink a large file before protecting it with our Compress PDF tool, or combine files first with Merge PDF.