How to password protect a PDF
Choose your PDF
Pick the document you want to protect.
Set a password
Type it twice to make sure it's right.
Download
Your protected PDF asks for the password whenever it's opened.
About this tool
Protecting a PDF is sensible before emailing payslips, bank statements, contracts or medical letters. The file is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest standard PDF encryption, which every modern PDF reader supports.
Your password is used only on your device to lock the file. We never see it and can't recover it, so keep it somewhere safe.
Questions
What if I forget the password?
We can't recover it, because it never leaves your device. Keep the unprotected original, or store the password in a password manager.
How strong is the protection?
The PDF is encrypted with AES-256. A long password made of several words is far harder to guess than a short one.
Will people need special software to open it?
No. Adobe Reader, browsers, Mac Preview and phone PDF viewers all open AES-256 protected PDFs and ask for the password.
Is my password sent anywhere?
No. The file is locked in your browser on your own device. Neither the file nor the password is uploaded.