Password protect a PDF

Encrypt a PDF with a password and choose what people can do with it. Your file stays on your device.

New here? See the step by step guide and common questions below the tool.

PDF Workbench

Your files stay in this browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Files
Drop PDFs here or click to browse
How your files are handled
  • Your files are opened and processed inside this browser tab. They are never uploaded, and this site has no server that could receive them.
  • The tool itself loads only from adawanglili.com when the page opens. After that, it works offline.
  • Closing the tab clears your files from memory. Nothing is kept except the files you choose to download.
  • These tool pages count visits with Cloudflare Web Analytics only: the page address and loading speed, with no cookies. Your files and their contents are never sent to it.

Limitations

  • Saving creates a new PDF. Bookmarks and fillable forms are kept, but digital signatures are no longer valid.
  • To open a locked PDF, you need its password. New passwords use AES 128-bit encryption.
  • Scanned pages are images, so Read cannot extract their text.
  • Very large files depend on your device’s memory and can be slow on phones.
  • Works in current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari.
    size

    Protect

    Save the current layout with a password and usage limits.

    Use 12 or more characters for real protection.
    Leave empty and a random one is created. You will not need it unless you want to change the limits later.
    Allow people to

    Encryption is AES 128-bit. The open password keeps content private. Usage limits are honored by standard readers such as Acrobat and Preview, but determined people can bypass them.

    Remove a password

    Add a locked PDF and enter its password when asked. Then save a copy without it.

    Unlocked files
      This saves every page on the mat. Remove other files first if you only want the unlocked one.

      Set an open password so only people who know it can read the file. You can also restrict printing, copying text, editing and rearranging pages. The PDF is encrypted with AES 128-bit, which Adobe Acrobat, Apple Preview, browsers and phone apps all support.

      How to do it

      1. Add the PDF you want to protect.
      2. In the Protect tab, type an open password twice and choose what to allow.
      3. Click Save protected PDF.

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      Why your files stay private

      Use it for documents you would rather not hand to a stranger: contracts, HR files, bank statements and tax forms.

      Most free PDF sites send your document to their server and send a result back. This one does not. The page reads your file directly from your device, does the work in your browser with the open source libraries pdf.js and pdf-lib, and saves the result to your downloads. Nothing is uploaded, so there is nothing to store. You can test it yourself: load the page, turn off your Wi-Fi, and every tool still works.

      Questions

      How do I put a password on a PDF for free?

      Add the file, enter a password in the Protect tab and save. There is no account or watermark.

      What is the difference between the open password and the owner password?

      The open password encrypts the file so it cannot be read without it. The owner password only controls permissions like printing and copying.

      Can someone remove the password?

      Not without knowing it, if you choose a strong open password. Permission limits are weaker: standard readers respect them, but some tools ignore them.

      Is it safe to encrypt sensitive files here?

      Your file and your password never leave your browser, which is safer than tools that upload both to a server.

      Is it safe for contracts, HR files and financial documents?

      Your files never leave your device, so nothing is stored on a server or seen by anyone else. That makes it a good fit for contracts, HR files, bank statements and tax forms. For extra peace of mind, turn off your Wi-Fi once the page has loaded.

      Do I need to install anything? Does it work offline?

      There is nothing to install and no account to create. Open the page in any recent browser. Once it has loaded, every tool keeps working without an internet connection.

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      Other things you can do

      All PDF toolsMerge PDFSplit PDFRotate and reorder pagesPassword protect PDFUnlock PDF

      Built by Ada Wang Lili with the open source libraries pdf.js (Apache 2.0), pdf-lib (MIT), JSZip (MIT). · Report a bug