Support: Protect PDF

Tell us what happened. Include which page you were on and what you expected to see. Most answers go out within a business day.

Common questions

Is my PDF or my password uploaded?

No. The PDF is encrypted by a program that runs inside your browser on your own device. Neither the file nor the passwords are sent to us or to anyone else, and nothing is stored.

How do I password protect a PDF?

Drop the PDF in, type the password readers will need under Password to open the PDF, and press Protect PDF. The protected copy downloads; send it, and send the password separately.

Can I stop people printing or copying without a password to open?

Yes. Leave the opening password empty, untick Print, Copy or Edit, and set a permissions password. The PDF opens freely, and readers obey the limits. Those limits are enforced by PDF readers rather than by encryption, so they deter rather than prevent.

AES-256 or AES-128?

AES-256 is stronger and is read by every current PDF reader, including Adobe Reader from version X (2010). Choose AES-128 only if the file must open in a reader older than that.

What if I forget the password?

The file cannot be opened by anyone, including us, because the password is not stored anywhere and the encryption cannot be undone without it. Keep a copy of the password, and keep your unprotected original.

Can I protect a PDF that already has a password?

Yes. Type its current password when the tool asks, then set the new password and limits. The file is decrypted and encrypted afresh on your device.

Does protecting change the pages?

No. Pages, text, pictures, links, bookmarks and form fields are copied exactly as they are; only the encryption is added.

Is it free?

Yes, completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit.

Nothing happens when I pick a file

The tool runs entirely in your browser, so a very old browser can fail silently. Try the current Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. Your files are never uploaded anywhere.