Password protect a PDF

Keep a PDF private with a password

When you send payslips, contracts, medical reports or tax documents by email, a password makes sure only the intended reader can open them. Protect PDF encrypts the whole file with AES-256, the strongest encryption the PDF format supports and the same standard used by Adobe Acrobat. Every modern PDF reader can open it with the password.

You can also set permissions that ask readers not to print, copy or edit the document. Most readers respect these, but they are a courtesy rather than strong protection, so rely on the password for anything truly confidential.

How to password protect a PDF

1. 1

   Open the PDF

   Choose the file you want to protect.

2. 2

   Set a password

   Type it twice. A strength hint helps you pick a good one.

3. 3

   Choose permissions

   Optionally untick printing, copying or editing, and set a separate permissions password.

4. 4

   Encrypt and download

   Save the protected PDF and share the password separately, for example by phone or text message.

Features

• AES-256 encryption

  The strongest standard encryption for PDFs.

• Optional permissions

  Ask readers not to print, copy or edit.

• Encrypted on your device

  Neither the file nor the password is sent anywhere.

• Re-protect files

  Replace an existing password with a new one.

Choosing a good password

Use at least 12 characters, mixing words, numbers and symbols, and don't reuse a password from an online account. Send the password through a different channel from the file, so someone who intercepts the email doesn't get both. Keep a copy somewhere safe: there is no way to recover a forgotten password, for you or for us.