Password protect a PDF
Add a password so only people who have it can open the file.
Need more than one change? Chain tools together →Something not right? Tell us
Your file
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PDF up to 100 MB · stays on your device
Copied files somewhere? Paste with Ctrl+V — no need to save it first.
Set a password
Choose a file first.
What this tool is for
Adding a password means the file cannot be opened without it. It is worth doing before sending anything with personal detail in it over email, since a message can be forwarded further than you intended and the attachment travels along with it.
How to password protect a PDF
- Add the PDF you want to lock.
- Type the password you want it to need.
- Save the protected copy, and send the password by some other means.
Questions
What happens if I lose the password?
The file cannot be opened, and there is nothing that can be done about it from here. Keep the password somewhere you will still have it later.
Should I email the password along with the file?
No. Anyone who reads that message then has both halves. Send the password another way, such as a text message or a call.
Does the password stop people printing or copying it?
It controls opening the document. Someone who has the password and can open it can also read, print and copy what is inside.
Is my password sent anywhere?
No. The file is encrypted here on your device, so neither the document nor the password you chose leaves it.
Related tools
- Remove a PDF password — Take a password off a PDF you already know the password for.
- Merge PDFs — Join several files into one, in the order you choose.
- Split a PDF — Keep only the pages you want. The rest are left out.
- Rotate a PDF — Turn pages that came out sideways.