172 · PDF Tools

PDF Password Protector

Lock a PDF so only people with the password can open it.

or drop it here Files stay on your device

Needed to open the PDF.

Allow people who open it to
Permissions password (optional)

Lets you change the permissions later. If you leave it empty and turn a permission off, a random one is used.

Encrypted with AES-256. Permissions are respected by most PDF readers, but they aren’t a strong barrier on their own; the open password is.

    How to use the pdf password protector

    1. Choose or drop a PDF.
    2. Enter a password twice and choose what people may do.
    3. Select Protect PDF and download the encrypted file.

    Choosing a good password

    The open password is what keeps the file private, so make it long: four or more random words, or 12+ mixed characters. Share it separately from the file, for example by phone or a different app. Try the Password Generator.

    About permissions

    You can ask PDF readers to block printing, copying or editing. Most respect this, but permissions are a courtesy setting rather than real protection; the open password is the part that’s cryptographically secure.

    Examples

    Password “maple-orbit-tundra-42”

    PDF asks for that password to open

    Printing turned off

    Readers grey out Print

    Questions

    Can you recover my password if I forget it?

    No. The password is never sent or stored anywhere, and AES-256 can’t be bypassed. Keep it somewhere safe, like a password manager.

    Are my files uploaded?

    No. The PDF is processed by your browser on your own device and is never sent to a server, so it’s safe to use with private documents.