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Protect PDF

Protect PDF

Add a password to your PDF file.

Set open password
Restrict printing, copying & editing
256-bit AES encryption
Works on all PDF viewers

Tap to add PDF

How to password-protect a PDF

1
Upload one PDF - or up to 3 with a free account - from your device, or pull them from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Without an account: 1 file, up to 80 MB. With a free account: up to 3 files at once, 80 MB each (120 MB total).
2
Type the password you want to use: 4 to 20 characters, any mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Protecting several files? Set one shared password for all, or a different password for each.
3
Re-enter the password to confirm. Type carefully - we have no way to recover a lost password later.
4
Click Protect PDF. The file is encrypted with 256-bit AES so only people with the password can open it.
5
Download your secured PDF, save it back to the cloud, or send it straight into another tool like Merge or Sign - the protected file is carried across, no re-upload.

Why use our Protect PDF tool

AES-256 encryption
Industry-standard 256-bit AES encryption is applied to the entire document - the same standard used by banks and governments.
Password to open
Anyone trying to open the file in any PDF reader will be prompted for your password before they can see the contents.
Set permissions
Beyond the open password, choose whether viewers can print, copy text and images, or edit the file - each restriction is enforced with a separate 256-bit owner key.
Works everywhere
The protected PDF opens normally in Adobe Acrobat, browsers, mobile readers, and any standards-compliant PDF tool.
One password or per-file
When protecting several PDFs, apply one shared password to the whole batch, or set a different password for each file.
Clear password rules
Passwords are 4 to 20 characters using letters, numbers, and standard keyboard symbols (not starting with a dash), with a live strength meter and re-enter-to-confirm before encrypting.
Batch processing
With a free account, protect up to 3 PDFs at once (80 MB each, 120 MB total). Each becomes its own encrypted file, delivered as a ZIP.
Cloud import & save
Pull files from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, and save the secured PDF straight back - no local download step.
Workflow Ready
Send the secured PDF straight into Merge, Sign, or any other tool - the file is carried across, so there is no need to re-upload.
Auto-deleted from servers
Files are processed over HTTPS and deleted from our servers shortly after the job finishes. We never store your password.
Free, no watermark
No watermark on the PDF, no signup needed for a single file, no per-day cap on protections.

Frequently asked questions

What encryption standard is used?
Industry-standard AES-256 (256-bit) encryption is applied across the whole document. It is the same standard trusted by banks and governments and is supported by every modern PDF reader.
How strong is the protection?
As strong as your password. AES itself is extremely hard to break, so the weak link is almost always a short or guessable password - a full-length 20-character mix of letters, numbers, and symbols makes the file effectively uncrackable.
What if I forget the password?
There is no recovery. PDF encryption is one-way by design - if the password is lost, the file cannot be opened. Always store the password somewhere safe before sharing.
What makes a good password?
Use the full length allowed - 4 to 20 characters - and mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Within that limit, longer and more varied is always harder to crack. Passwords must use standard keyboard characters.
Will the protected PDF open in any reader?
Yes. The output uses the standard PDF security format so it opens in Adobe Acrobat, Preview on Mac, mobile readers, and any browser, all with the password prompt.
Can I stop people printing, copying, or editing?
Yes. Alongside the open password you can turn off printing, copying text and images, or editing. These permission limits are enforced with a separate random owner key, so they hold up in standards-compliant readers - even though anyone with your password can still open the file to read it.
Can I protect multiple PDFs at once?
Yes. Batch processing is available with a free account - up to 3 files at once, 80 MB each (120 MB total). Apply one shared password to every file, or set a different password per file. Multiple files come back as a ZIP. Single file protection works without signing in (up to 80 MB).
Can I import from Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive?
Yes. Use the cloud buttons on the upload screen to pull files in directly. No need to download them to your device first.
Is my password stored anywhere on your servers?
No. The password is used during processing to encrypt the file and is never saved on our side. We cannot reset, view, or recover it.
Are my files kept private?
Yes. Uploads happen over HTTPS, files are not shared, and they are deleted from our servers shortly after the job finishes.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. The tool runs in any modern browser on phone, tablet, or desktop. There is no app to install.

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