A password on a PDF means it can't be opened without that password, even if the file ends up in the wrong inbox. This is useful for payslips, contracts, medical documents and anything else you wouldn't want read by accident.
Step by step
- Open the Protect PDF tool and choose your file.
- Type a password, then type it again to confirm. The button stays disabled until they match.
- Click Protect PDF and download the encrypted copy.
- Try opening the new file to confirm that it asks for the password.
Choosing a good password
- Use a long phrase of several unrelated words rather than a short, clever one.
- Don't reuse a password from your email or banking.
- Send the password through a different channel than the file, for example by phone or a separate message.
Important to know
- If you forget the password, it cannot be recovered. Keep the original, unprotected file somewhere safe.
- The tool uses AES-256, the standard strong encryption supported by modern PDF viewers. Very old viewers may not open it.
- Your file and password are processed in your browser and are not uploaded.
Need to remove the password later?
If you know the password, the Unlock PDF tool saves a copy without it.