Protect PDF
Start free

Password protect a PDF, free

Add a password to a PDF so only people who know it can open the file, and choose whether they may print, copy or edit.

  • Runs on our secure server
  • Deleted within 1 hour
  • Processed in London
  • Up to 25 MB per file
or drop files here

Up to 25 MB per file · 1 file at a time on your plan

How it works

  1. Add your PDF

    Click Choose file or drag a PDF onto the page.

  2. Set a password

    Type a strong password and type it again to confirm. Anyone opening the file will need it.

  3. Choose permissions

    Printing is allowed by default; copying and editing are not. Change these to suit the people you are sending it to.

Pro

Do more with Pro

  • No ads, anywhere
  • Files up to 200 MB
  • 50 files at once
  • Saved workflows
Try Pro free for 14 daysThen £7.99 a month. Cancel any time.

About protecting PDFs

Protecting a PDF encrypts its contents with AES-256, the standard used by modern PDF software, so the file cannot be opened without the password. That makes it suitable for sending payslips, medical letters or financial statements by email. The permissions control what someone may do once they have opened the file: print it, copy text and images from it, or change it. Good PDF readers respect these settings, but they are less strict than the open password, as some software ignores them, so do not rely on permissions alone for anything sensitive. Choose a password of at least 12 characters, mixing words, numbers and symbols, and send it through a different channel from the file, such as a text message or phone call. Keep a note of it: if you forget the password, neither we nor anyone else can open the file for you, because Unlock PDF only works with the correct password. To remove protection later, use Unlock PDF.

Limits: one PDF per task, up to 25 MB with a free account, 200 MB on Pro and 500 MB on Business, with up to 2,000 pages. A free account includes 10 server tasks a day.

Before you sign in, files can be up to 25 MB and you can run 10 server tasks a day. A free account raises this to 25 MB and 10 tasks a day.

Privacy: your file is uploaded over an encrypted connection to our UK servers, processed automatically with no person opening it, and deleted within 2 hours (1 hour on Free), or straight away with Delete now. Your password is used only for this job.

How to use the PDF tools: Step-by-step help with every tool, limits and your files.

Protect PDF: frequently asked questions

How secure is the protection?

The file is encrypted with AES-256. With a long, unique password, it cannot realistically be opened without that password.

What if I forget the password?

It cannot be recovered. Unlock PDF needs the correct password and never guesses, so keep a note of it somewhere safe.

Can I stop people printing or copying?

Yes, using the permissions. Most readers respect them, but some software does not, so the open password is the stronger protection.

How should I share the password?

Through a different channel from the file, such as a text message or phone call, never in the same email.

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