Protect PDF with a Password
Password-protect a PDF with AES-256 encryption in your browser. Set an open password and limit printing, editing or copying. Nothing is uploaded.
Drop the PDF to protect
You’ll set a password after it opens.
How to use Protect PDF with a Password
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Open the PDF
Drop the PDF to protect.
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Set the password
Type a password twice (or generate one), and choose any restrictions.
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Protect and download
Press Protect PDF and download the encrypted file.
About this tool
Lock a PDF with a password. The file is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest encryption the PDF format offers, and anyone opening it must type the password first. You can also restrict printing, editing and copying.
Everything happens in your browser, so the password and the file never leave your device, and there is no account. You can generate a strong random password here and copy it into your password manager.
Be careful with the password: there is no way to recover it, for you or for anyone else. Also note that restrictions without an open password are only a request. PDF programs usually respect them, but they cannot stop someone who can open the file from reading it.
How do I password-protect a PDF without uploading it?
Open the file here, type a password twice and choose Protect. The file is encrypted inside your browser and you download the protected copy. Nothing is sent anywhere.
How strong is the protection?
It uses AES-256 encryption. With a long, random password it cannot realistically be broken. A short or guessable password is the weak point, so use the Generate button or a passphrase of several unrelated words.
What if I forget the password?
It cannot be recovered. Interformat never sees it, and AES-256 cannot be bypassed. Keep a copy of the unprotected original somewhere safe.
Do the printing and copying restrictions really work?
They are honoured by most PDF programs, but they are not security: anyone who can open the file can read it, and some tools ignore the flags. Use an open password when you need to keep content private.