Protect PDF
Add password protection to your PDF files to keep them secure and private.
Set Password
Password must be at least 4 characters long. Remember this password - you'll need it to open the protected PDF.
Choose PDF files or drag & drop
Select one or more PDF files to protect (Max 50MB each)
Strong Encryption
Advanced password protection keeps your documents secure
Fast & Secure
Quick protection with automatic file cleanup for privacy
Batch Processing
Protect multiple PDF files with the same password
About the PDF Password Protector
This tool password protects a PDF by encrypting it so the file cannot be opened without the password you set. Anyone who receives the document is prompted for it before a single page is shown.
Password protect PDF documents before they travel: a payslip going to an employee, a contract emailed to a client, or medical or tax paperwork sent as an attachment. Once encrypted, the file is unreadable to anyone who does not have the password, including anyone who intercepts the email.
The password is applied as standard PDF encryption, so Acrobat, Preview, Chrome, Edge and every mainstream reader will prompt for it on open. No special software is needed at the other end.
Choose a password you can pass along by another channel — a phone call or message rather than the same email as the attachment. There is no recovery: if the password is lost, the document cannot be opened, which is the point of encrypting it. To remove protection from a file whose password you already know, use the PDF unlocker.
How to use the PDF Password Protector
- Upload the PDF. Drag the document you want to protect onto the drop zone.
- Set a password. Type the password that will be required to open the file, and note it somewhere safe.
- Encrypt. Run the tool to write an encrypted copy of the document.
- Download and share the password separately. Save the protected PDF and send the password through a different channel from the file.
PDF Password Protector features
- PDF password protection
- AES encryption
- Batch processing
- Access control
- Document security
- Professional encryption
- Confidentiality protection
- Security compliance
- Business workflow
- Security essential
Frequently asked questions
How do I password protect a PDF?
Upload the file, type the password you want to require, run the tool and download the encrypted copy.
Which readers will ask for the password?
All mainstream ones — Acrobat, Preview, Chrome, Edge and Firefox prompt for the password before showing any page.
Can I recover a lost PDF password?
No. Encryption is not reversible without the password, so store it somewhere safe before you send the file.
Is emailing an encrypted PDF safe?
The file itself is unreadable without the password. Send the password by another channel, not in the same email.
How do I remove a password later?
Use the PDF unlocker and supply the current password. It writes an unprotected copy of the document.