Protect PDF
Lock a PDF with a password using strong AES-256 encryption, so only people you tell can open it. Optionally block printing, copying or editing. Protect several PDFs at once with the same settings.
Tip: choose several files at once to process them all with the same settings.
How to use it
- 1Choose a PDF, or several to protect with the same password.
- 2Type the password twice, and pick any restrictions you want.
- 3Select Protect PDF and download the locked copy. Share the password separately, not in the same message.
Frequently asked questions
How strong is the protection?
The PDF is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest encryption PDFs support. Without the password its contents can't be read, so choose a long password that's hard to guess.
What if I forget the password?
It can't be recovered, by us or anyone else. Keep the original file, or note the password somewhere safe, before you share the locked copy.
What does a permissions password do?
If you block printing, copying or editing, apps such as Adobe Acrobat let whoever has the permissions password lift those limits. Leave it blank and a random one is used: then the limits can only be lifted by unlocking the PDF with its open password.
Will the restrictions stop everyone?
Not always. Most PDF apps respect them, but some ignore them, so treat them as a polite request. The open password is what keeps out people who don't have it.
Will it open on phones and in other apps?
Yes. Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Adobe Acrobat and the usual PDF viewers on Android and iPhone open AES-256 PDFs and ask for the password.