Need to send a confidential contract, payslip, or tax document over email? Password-protect it first. This free PDF protection tool adds a strong password to any PDF — and unlike server-based tools, it does the encryption right in your browser. Drop the file, type a password, click Protect, download. No sign-up, no upload, no waiting in a queue.
PDF password protection encrypts the file's contents so it can only be opened by someone who knows the password. The standard format supports two passwords: a user password (required to open the file) and an owner password (which controls permissions like printing and copying). This tool sets both to the same value for simplicity and lets you toggle the printing and copying permissions. The encryption runs in your browser using pdf-lib — no server, no upload.
100% client-side encryption — the file never leaves your device. Standard PDF encryption — opens in every major reader. Configurable permissions (allow/block printing, allow/block copying). Password confirmation to prevent typos. Drag-and-drop file picker. Up to 100MB file size. No watermarks, no ads, no sign-up. Works on mobile and desktop.
When you drop a PDF, pdf-lib parses it in your browser. You type a password, confirm it, and pick the permissions you want to allow. On click, the tool applies the encryption: the document's contents are encrypted with a key derived from your password, and the user/owner password and permission flags are written into the PDF's metadata. The encrypted file is offered as a download via a temporary in-browser blob URL. Nothing is sent to any server.
Email a payslip or salary letter — encrypt before sending to HR or a landlord. Share tax documents — protect ITR PDFs, Form 16, or balance sheets before sending to your CA. Send contracts — encrypt signed agreements before emailing to counterparties. Distribute internal reports — add a password before sharing with consultants or contractors. Protect medical records — encrypt lab reports and prescriptions before sharing with insurers. Share bank statements — secure them before sending to loan officers or accountants.
Privacy first — most online PDF protectors upload your file. We don't. Encryption runs entirely in your browser, which is essential for sensitive financial, legal, and medical documents. Speed — no upload, no queue. Most files are encrypted in under a second. Standard format — the encrypted PDF opens in every reader (Adobe Acrobat, Preview, Chrome, Edge, Foxit). Free forever — no premium tier, no email gate. Permissions control — restrict printing and copying without sacrificing readability.
Employees emailing payslips and offer letters to verifiers. Lawyers sending signed contracts and confidential exhibits. CAs and tax preparers protecting ITR and audit PDFs before delivery. HR teams distributing protected onboarding documents. Finance teams securing bank statements and ledgers before sharing externally. Patients sharing medical records with insurers. Anyone who needs to email a sensitive PDF.
Drop your PDF, type a strong password, confirm it, decide whether the recipient can print or copy text, and click Protect PDF. Download the file as '
Use a 12+ character password mixing upper, lower, numbers, and symbols. Store it in a password manager — there's no recovery. Send the password via a different channel than the PDF itself (e.g., PDF over email, password over WhatsApp/SMS). For very sensitive content, consider a one-time-use password and rotate it after first delivery. Verify the protected file opens correctly in your usual reader before sending.
Standard PDF encryption — strong enough for casual protection but not equivalent to enterprise DRM. There's no password recovery if you forget — store it safely. Already-encrypted PDFs need to be unlocked first using our PDF Password Remover. Permission flags (printing/copying restrictions) can be bypassed by determined users with specialised tools — treat them as polite guards, not unbreakable locks.
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark, no file count limit, no premium tier.
No. Encryption runs entirely in your browser using pdf-lib. Your PDF never touches our servers — verify with DevTools → Network.
Standard PDF encryption with both user and owner passwords. The encrypted PDF opens in any standard PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat, Preview, Chrome, Edge) by prompting for the password.
Yes. There is no backdoor or recovery. Always save your password in a password manager before encrypting an important document.
These are owner-level restrictions enforced by the PDF reader. 'Allow printing' lets the opener print the document; turning it off blocks printing. 'Allow copying' lets the opener select and copy text; turning it off prevents that. These restrictions are not unbreakable — they're polite guards, not DRM.
Yes. Encrypted PDFs use the standard PDF encryption format and open in every major PDF reader by prompting for the password.
Unlock it first with our PDF Password Remover, then come back and apply the new password.
Up to 100MB per file. Encryption adds negligible size to the output.
See also: PDF Password Remover, Merge PDF, Watermark PDF.