Protect PDF with Password
Add an open password to your PDF. Without it, the document won't open in any PDF viewer.
Drag a PDF here or select the file you want to protect with a password.
Online PDF Password Protection
Sending a contract, ID scan, medical certificate or financial report? Upload the PDF, choose a password, and the service encrypts the document with a 128-bit key using the standard PDF security mechanism. The file will open only after the password is entered — in Adobe Acrobat, a web browser, Preview on Mac or a phone app. The password is never logged, is stored encrypted only while the task waits in the queue, and is erased right after processing. We cannot recover a forgotten password, so keep it somewhere safe and share it separately from the file.
When to Password Protect a PDF
- Personal data — passport scans, application forms and medical records should not be readable by strangers.
- Contracts and proposals — only people you give the password to will see the terms of the deal.
- Email and messengers — even if a message reaches the wrong person, the file is useless without the password.
- Cloud and USB storage — protect the document in case a drive is lost or an account is compromised.
Benefits of Our PDF Protection
- Compatibility — the protected file opens in any PDF viewer once the password is entered.
- 128-bit encryption — document content is actually encrypted, not just hidden behind a prompt.
- Password not stored — it never reaches the logs and is erased right after processing.
- Free, no sign-up — no accounts and no watermarks on the protected document.
- Automatic deletion — the original and encrypted PDFs are removed from the server within 48 hours.
How to Password Protect a PDF
- Upload a PDF to the upload area on the page.
- Enter a password of 4 to 128 characters — ideally 12 or more with letters, digits and symbols.
- Click Protect PDF — encryption runs in the background.
- Download the protected file and check that it opens with your password.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I password protect a PDF online?
- Upload a PDF, enter a password and click Protect PDF. After background processing, download the encrypted file. Any viewer will ask for the password when opening it.
- Which apps can open the protected PDF?
- Any app that supports standard PDF encryption: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Preview on Mac, and PDF apps for Android and iPhone.
- What encryption is used?
- 128-bit encryption with the standard PDF security handler, revision 3. It favors compatibility, so even older programs can open the file. For highly sensitive data, a long and complex password matters most.
- What if I forget the password?
- We cannot recover it — the password is not kept after processing. Keep an unprotected copy of the original or store the password in a password manager.
- What makes a good password?
- At least 12 characters mixing lowercase and uppercase letters, digits and symbols. Avoid birthdays, names and dictionary words — they are guessed first.
- How should I share the password?
- Through a different channel than the file. For example, email the PDF and give the password by phone or in a messenger, so intercepting one message does not expose the document.
- Does the service see my password?
- The password is used only for encryption. It is never logged, is stored encrypted only while the task is queued, and is erased immediately after processing.
- How do I remove the password later?
- Use our Unlock PDF tool: upload the file, enter the password you know, and get a copy without protection.