Protect PDF with a Password

Add a password to a PDF so it can't be opened without it — right here in your browser, nothing ever uploaded.

✓ No file-count or file-size limit ✓ Nothing ever uploaded ✓ 100% free

✅ Your PDF is now password-protected.

Download protected PDF
Honesty note: this adds standard, widely-supported PDF password protection — every mainstream PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat, Preview, browser PDF viewers, and so on) will require your password before opening the file. It's a well-established, long-standing PDF protection standard, not the newest or strongest encryption available — if you need top-tier, modern-grade security for extremely sensitive material, pair this with another layer of protection (like an encrypted archive) rather than relying on it alone. If you forget your password, there is no way to recover it — not by us, not by anyone, since the file is never uploaded anywhere for us to reset it.

Read the full guide: How to Password-Protect a PDF Before Sending It.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I forget the password?

There's no way to recover it or remove the protection without it. The file is processed entirely on your device and never uploaded anywhere, so there's no account or server-side copy that could reset it for you. Keep your password somewhere safe.

How strong is this protection?

It uses a long-standing, universally-supported PDF password standard that every mainstream PDF reader respects. It's meant to stop casual/unauthorized access to a file, not to withstand a determined, well-resourced attacker with specialized tools — for that level of protection, combine this with another layer, like storing the file in an encrypted archive or drive.

Can I remove a password later?

Yes — use the Unlock PDF tool with the password to get back an unprotected copy.

My file is already password-protected. Can I change the password?

Run it through Unlock PDF first with the current password to remove protection, then use this tool to add a new one.

Is my file ever uploaded?

No, protection is applied entirely in your browser, including the password itself — nothing is ever sent anywhere.