Businesses
Share documents with a password
Add an opening password to proposals or reports and provide it to the intended recipient separately.
A useful PDF task, made simple
Protect PDF.
Encrypt your PDF with an opening password and control printing, copying, and editing permissions.
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Use the page controls to inspect your document.
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Your download is ready
Save your result or return to adjust the settings.
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Sent for temporary processing when you start.
PDF
How to protect a PDF
- 01
Choose your document
Upload one PDF from your device.
- 02
Set up the result
Review the available settings, then start processing.
- 03
Download your file
Save the result and check it before sharing.
Protect PDF online
Encrypt your PDF with an opening password and control printing, copying, and editing permissions. The permissions password is optional. If provided, use a different password from the opening password. AES-256 is the default; RC4 is for legacy compatibility. Permission restrictions depend on the PDF reader.
QUICK VIDEO TUTORIAL
How to password-protect a PDF
Require a password to open the document.
English narration
Watch the video
Practical ways to use this tool
Administration
Set document permissions
Choose copying, printing and modification permissions for workflows using readers that honor them.
Educators
Distribute controlled-access copies
Protect course or internal materials with a password while keeping an unprotected master copy for your own work.
Features and controls
Set an opening password
Require a password to open the PDF, with an optional permissions password.
Opening and permissions passwords
Enter the required document-opening password. If you also enter a permissions password, use a different value. All permission checkboxes start unchecked, so review copying, modification, assembly, forms and annotation permissions deliberately. Keep the passwords securely; this tool does not provide password recovery.
Choose encryption and printing access
Use the encryption and permissions controls to set the intended restrictions.
Encryption, printing and reader behavior
AES-256 is the default encryption choice; other listed choices support compatibility needs. Printing can be disabled or allowed at low or high quality. Permission flags depend on the PDF reader honoring them and are not a guarantee against screenshots or all copying. Test the protected file in the reader your recipient uses.
Check the source file
Use the accepted format and keep required resources with the document.
Input requirements and failed conversions
The filename extension must match the actual file type. Renaming an unrelated file does not convert it. Keep any required resources available within the document, and use an unencrypted file you are authorized to process. Processing can fail on damaged, unsupported or unusually complex content even when its byte size is within the upload limit.
Check that the password works
Download the protected PDF and test opening it with the intended password.
Testing the protected download
A protected document may not open in the normal result preview without a password prompt. Save it and test in a PDF reader. Confirm the permitted actions as well as the opening password. Keep an unprotected original in a secure place if you need to make later changes.
Supported files & processing
- Input
- Output
Open one PDF up to 100 MB and 750 source pages. Protected files need an unlocked copy unless this tool explicitly offers password entry. Large or complex pages can require more memory or reach processing limits even when the file is within these limits.
Processing uses our servers. Source files, temporary files and results are deleted from our servers within 30 minutes after processing finishes. We do not share document contents with third parties or use them to train AI models.
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FAQ
A few useful answers
Know what to expect before you start.
Temporary server processingWhat is the difference between the two passwords?
The opening password is needed to open the protected PDF. A separate permissions password controls changes to its security settings; if you enter it, use a different value from the opening password. Review printing, copying and editing permissions before saving. Keep your passwords securely: this tool does not recover forgotten passwords.
Does locking a PDF make its contents impossible to copy?
AES-256 is the default encryption choice; other listed choices support compatibility needs. Printing can be disabled or allowed at low or high quality. Permission flags depend on the PDF reader honoring them and are not a guarantee against screenshots or all copying. Test the protected file in the reader your recipient uses.
What are the file and page limits?
Open one PDF up to 100 MB and 750 source pages. Protected files need an unlocked copy unless this tool explicitly offers password entry. Large or complex pages can require more memory or reach processing limits even when the file is within these limits.
Where is my document processed?
This tool uses our servers for processing. Your original file is not overwritten; the result is a separate download. Preview and review the result where available, and download the copy you need before starting over.
