Password Protect PDF – Encrypt PDF Online Free
Add a password to your PDF and control printing, copying and editing permissions. Free online PDF encryption.
or drop a PDF here
No file selected
Private and short-lived: every upload is erased automatically 72 hours after you last open it.
Step by step
Protect a PDF: step by step
Add a password to your PDF and control printing, copying and editing permissions. Free online PDF encryption.
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1
Upload your PDF
Drop the file you want to lock. Nothing is applied until you press the button — and the file is deleted after 2 hours.
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2
Set the passwords & permissions
The Password is what anyone needs to open the file. The Admin password is the key for later — needed to change the permissions or remove the lock. The seven permissions start fully locked: nothing is allowed until you tick it.
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3
Pick the strength & encrypt
More options folds out the Encryption choice — Strong AES 256 is the default, with Medium RC4 and AES 128 for older readers. Press Encrypt PDF and the ready page hands back the locked file: in our test it opened only with the password, with every permission off.
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A password to open
Anyone the file is shared with needs the password you set.
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Admin key for changes
A second password controls the permissions — keep it safe to change or remove the lock later.
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Nothing allowed by default
Printing, copying, editing, commenting — the seven permissions start switched off.
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Modern encryption
Strong AES 256 by default; Medium RC4 and AES 128 for older readers.
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Honest about limits
The screen says it plainly — some readers ignore permission flags; the password is the real lock.
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Private by default
No account, no watermark — and every file is automatically deleted after 2 hours.
Selected:
Allowed PDF reader permissions ?
Warning: Some PDF readers will ignore these permissions. Permissions may not be honoured or enforced at all times.
No password typed yet — the file will only carry the permission restrictions and anyone can open it.
Encryption ?