Protect PDF

Lock a PDF with a password so only people who know it can open the file.

Security Tools🛡️ Secure server processingFree · no sign-up
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How to use Protect PDF

  1. Add your PDF. Click the upload area or drag and drop your file (PDF). It is sent over an encrypted connection for processing.
  2. Choose your options. Adjust the settings for Protect PDF if they are shown, or keep the defaults for a quick result.
  3. Run Protect PDF. Press the "Protect PDF" button and wait a moment while your PDF is processed.
  4. Download the result. Your PDF result downloads straight away. Process another file whenever you like, with no limits or sign-up.

Why use Protect PDF?

  • Free with no sign-up and no watermark
  • Deleted after you download the result, or within about an hour
  • Encrypted transfer to a temporary workspace
  • Works on phone, tablet and desktop

Common uses for Protect PDF

  • Secure financial or personal documents before emailing.
  • Protect client deliverables until payment.
  • Add a basic layer of privacy to shared files.

Privacy and security

Your PDF is uploaded over an encrypted connection to a temporary workspace on our server and processed there. It is deleted when you download the result, immediately if processing fails, or after about an hour if you never download it. We do not sell your files. Read our Privacy Policy for details.

Frequently asked questions

How strong is the protection?

The PDF is encrypted with a password you choose. Use a long, unique password and share it through a different channel than the file.

Is Protect PDF free to use?

Yes. Protect PDF is free, needs no account and never adds a watermark to your result.

What happens to my PDF when I use Protect PDF?

Your PDF is uploaded over an encrypted connection to a temporary workspace on our server and processed there. It is deleted when you download the result, immediately if processing fails, or after about an hour if you never download it. We do not sell your files.

What file types does Protect PDF accept?

Protect PDF accepts PDF and produces PDF.

Is there a file size limit for Protect PDF?

You can process files up to 50 MB each.

Does Protect PDF work on my phone?

Yes. Protect PDF is fully responsive and works in the browser on Android, iPhone, tablets and desktop computers.

Guides and tips

SecurityHow PDF Encryption Actually Works, in Plain LanguageA non-technical explanation of what happens when you password-protect a PDF.SecurityPassword-Protecting a PDF: What It Actually Protects You FromUnderstanding PDF encryption, and the difference between a user password and an owner password.

Related tools

Unlock PDFRemove a known password from a PDF file.Redact PDFCover a region of a PDF page with a solid black box to visually redact it.

Explore more in Security Tools or browse all tools.