Password protect a PDF

Add a password to a PDF, with AES-256 encryption and the choice to stop printing, copying or editing.

Runs entirely in your browser. Your file is never uploaded.

Choose a fileor drag and drop it hereAccepts PDF

How it works

Add your PDF.
Choose a password and type it again.
Pick what people may do once it is open: print, copy text, change it.
Press Protect, then download the protected PDF.

How the protection works

The PDF is encrypted with AES-256, the strong standard PDF readers support. Opening it asks for the password, and without it the contents cannot be read.

Use a password that is long and not used elsewhere.
If you forget the password, the file cannot be opened. There is no reset, and this site cannot recover it because it never sees it.
Printing, copying and editing limits are respected by most PDF programs but are a request, not a lock. Only the password keeps someone out.

Your file stays on your device

The encryption runs inside your browser using QPDF compiled to WebAssembly, served from this site. Nothing is sent to a server. To take a password off a file you know the password for, use Remove a PDF password.

Good to know

Encryption is done by QPDF compiled to WebAssembly, in your browser. The password never leaves your device.
If you forget the password the file cannot be opened, and nobody, including this site, can recover it.
Limits on printing, copying and editing are respected by most PDF programs but are not a lock. Only the password keeps someone out.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to password protect a PDF here?: Yes. Files up to 25 MB are free, and GetFormatted Pro raises this to 250 MB.
Is my PDF or password uploaded?: No. The PDF is encrypted in your browser and neither it nor the password is sent anywhere.
What encryption does it use?: AES-256, the strongest encryption standard that PDF readers support.
What if I forget the password?: The file cannot be opened and nobody can recover it for you, so keep the password somewhere safe.
Can I stop people printing or copying?: You can ask for it, and most PDF programs respect that. It is not a lock, so use a strong password for anything sensitive.