Protect PDF
Add a password
Add 128-bit password protection to a PDF using one confirmed password.
Set and confirm a password for a protected PDF copy.
Share a sensitive PDF more carefully
When you need to send a contract, application, or financial document by email, password protection adds a gate before the recipient opens the PDF. Share the password through a separate channel, especially if the document contains personal or business-sensitive details.
Choose a password with at least three characters, enter it again to confirm it, and the tool applies 128-bit password protection to the PDF. The same password is used for the user and owner passwords; this tool does not create different permission levels.
What a PDF password cannot do
Password protection can reduce casual access, but it is not a promise that a PDF is safe from every attack. A short or predictable password is easier to guess, and a forgotten password cannot be recovered by the site. Keep a secure record before sharing the protected file.
Your PDF and password are handled within the browser on your device while protection is applied. The document is not sent to this site, so sensitive contents do not leave your browser through this operation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a very short password?
No. You must enter at least three characters and repeat the same password for confirmation before protection is applied. Consider using a longer, distinctive password rather than treating three characters as a recommended level of security, particularly for documents containing sensitive information.
Can I set one password to open the PDF and another for permissions?
No. This implementation uses the same value for the user and owner passwords, so it does not set up separate opening and owner-level passwords or distinct PDF permission settings. Use it when one shared password is appropriate for the document you are distributing.
Security
- Unlock PDF — Remove a password.