Password protect a PDF

Lock a PDF with AES-256 so it needs a password to open. The encryption is done by this tab.

This tool needs JavaScript, because your browser is the thing doing the work. The steps, the answers and the other tools below all read without it.

Runs in your browser · nothing uploaded

Add your file. Nothing is uploaded — the work happens in this tab.

Drop a PDF here

Choose a file

PDF · up to 100 MB

You can also paste a file from your clipboard

Options

One setting needs fixing

Password to open the file

Typed here, used here. It is not stored and not sent. Leave it blank to let anyone open the file and only set the permissions below.

Set a permissions password, or a password to open. With neither, there is nothing to stop a reader ignoring the switches.

Type it again

Permissions password

Optional. Someone with this password can turn the permissions back on. Blank means the same as the password to open.

What someone with the password may do

Print it Send the document to a printer or to a PDF printer driver.

Print at full quality With this off, printing is allowed but only as a low-resolution image, so the print cannot be rescanned into a clean copy.

Copy text out of it Select text or images in a reader and paste them elsewhere.

Change the contents Edit the text and drawings, and insert, delete, rotate or reorder pages.

Add comments Add notes, highlights and mark-up on top of the page.

Fill in form fields Type into the boxes of an interactive form without changing the form itself.

Read it with a screen reader Let assistive software read the text aloud.

These are requests to the PDF reader, not locks. A reader that chooses to ignore them can still print or copy. The password to open is the part that is real encryption — AES-256.

Result —

Fix this before running: Set a permissions password, or a password to open. With neither, there is nothing to stop a reader ignoring the switches.

Runs on your device · nothing uploaded

How to password protect a PDF

Drop the PDF inDrop one PDF onto the box above.
Set the passwordType it twice. The strength meter reflects length above everything else, because length is what matters. Choose here whether to also block printing and copying.
Encrypt and downloadSelect Protect, then download the AES-256 encrypted PDF. Write the password down somewhere safe first — nothing here can recover it.

Which encryption is used?

AES-256, the strongest that the PDF 2.0 specification defines. It is supported by Acrobat, Preview, Chrome, Firefox and Edge.

What happens if I lose the password?

The file cannot be opened, by you or by anyone here. Nothing is stored on our side, so there is nothing to recover it from. Write it down somewhere safe first.

Does the password travel with the file?

No. The password never leaves this tab; it is used here to derive the encryption key. Send the file and the password by separate routes.

Can I stop people printing without stopping them opening it?

Yes. Set the permissions without an open password and the file opens freely while printing and copying are refused by compliant readers.

How to password protect a PDF

Questions

Which encryption is used?

What happens if I lose the password?

Does the password travel with the file?

Can I stop people printing without stopping them opening it?

People locking a PDF usually also…