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ToolNestby WeTwo

Password-Protect a PDF

Lock a PDF with a password so only people you share it with can open it. The file is encrypted with AES-256 on your own device before you send it anywhere.

Runs in your browser. Your files never leave your device.

1. Add your PDF

One PDF, up to 100 MB. You can also drop it here.

Protect PDF: how to use it

  1. 1Add your PDF.
  2. 2Choose a password and type it again to confirm.
  3. 3Tap Protect PDF and download the encrypted copy.

How the protection works

The PDF is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest standard PDF encryption, which every modern PDF reader supports. Anyone opening it, in Adobe Acrobat, Preview, a browser or a phone app, has to enter the password first.

Share the password in a different way from the file. If you email the PDF, send the password by text message or tell it in person.

Choosing a password

Longer is stronger. A phrase of three or four random words is easy to say over the phone and hard to guess. There is no way to recover a forgotten password, so keep the original unprotected file somewhere safe.

Frequently asked questions

How do I put a password on a PDF?

Add the PDF, type a password twice and download the protected copy.

How secure is it?

It uses AES-256 encryption. With a strong password, the PDF can't realistically be opened without it.

What if I forget the password?

It can't be recovered. Keep your original file.

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. The PDF is processed in your browser on your own device and never leaves it.

See all pdf tools