Add a password to a PDF
Lock a PDF with a password so it can only be opened by someone who knows it - useful for sending contracts, financial documents, or anything you don't want opened by the wrong person.
How it works
- 1Upload the PDF you want to protect.
- 2Type the password you want to require to open it.
- 3Click "Process & download" to get the password-protected file.
Good to know
- Choose a password you will remember - there is no recovery. If it is lost, the file cannot be opened by you or anyone else.
- This encrypts the file itself, so the password is required to open it in any PDF reader, not just on this site.
Frequently asked questions
The file is encrypted with 256-bit AES - the current standard for PDF password protection - using the open-source qpdf library.
No - that's the point of real encryption. There's no backdoor or recovery option, so store the password somewhere safe before sending the file.
This sets a password required just to open and view the file. Separate printing or editing restrictions aren't set by this tool.