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Protect PDF with a password

Add a password so only people who know it can open your PDF.

Preparing your workspace

Loading the controls for this tool. Your files stay on this device.

Network activity: Starting…

How it works

  1. 1

    Choose a PDF. It stays on this device.

  2. 2

    Type a password, and choose whether people may print, copy or edit.

  3. 3

    Protect, then save the encrypted PDF.

Why it's private

  • Processed in your browser

    The tool runs on your device. There is no upload step and no server that receives your files.

  • Works offline

    Wait for Offline ready before disconnecting. OCR and Office conversion also need their engines saved on this device.

  • No ads or trackers

    Tool pages load no ads, no analytics scripts and no third-party code.

Questions

How strong is the protection?

The PDF is encrypted with AES-256. Without the password its pages cannot be read. A long password that is hard to guess matters most: short or common ones can be guessed by software.

What if I forget the password?

The PDF cannot be opened without it. The password never leaves your device, so nobody, including us, can recover it. Keep the original file until you have checked the password works.

Do the print and copy limits really stop people?

Most PDF apps respect them, but some ignore them, and anyone who can open the file can take a screenshot. Rely on the open password, and share it only with people you trust.

What is the permissions password?

A second password that lets its holder change the print, copy and edit limits. If you leave it empty, a random one is made, so the limits stay as you set them.

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. Your browser does the work on this device, and the tool keeps working offline once the page has loaded. Nothing is sent to a server.