Protect PDF with Password
Password-protect a PDF file and restrict printing, copying, and editing. Free, private, runs entirely in your browser.
Click to select a PDF file, or drag and drop
Your file never leaves your browserRecipients need this password to open the PDF.
Set separately to restrict printing/editing while allowing viewing.
Restrictions
How to Password-Protect a PDF
- Upload the PDF you want to protect.
- Set a user password — anyone who opens the file must enter it.
- Optionally set a separate owner password to control permissions like printing and editing.
- Choose which restrictions to apply, then click Protect PDF.
Example
You want to send a contract to a client but prevent them from editing it. Set an owner password with "Deny modifying" checked and no user password — the client can open and read the file freely but cannot make changes in most PDF viewers.
Common Use Cases
- Encrypting confidential reports before emailing them to colleagues.
- Preventing unauthorized copying of copyrighted material in a PDF.
- Restricting printing of sensitive financial or legal documents.
FAQ
- What is the difference between user and owner passwords? A user password is required to open the file at all. An owner password only restricts what viewers can do (print, copy, edit) — the file opens without it.
- Are the restrictions enforced everywhere? Most mainstream PDF readers respect these flags, but they are not unbreakable encryption. For maximum security, use a strong user password.
- Is my file uploaded anywhere? No — encryption happens entirely in your browser. The file never leaves your device.