Password-protect a PDF
Encrypt a PDF so it can't be opened without your password, using AES-256, the same encryption banks use. The whole thing happens on your device, so neither the file nor the password is ever uploaded. That's the part that matters when you're locking a document.
AES-256
Strong encryption, applied with qpdf right in your browser.
Nothing uploaded
The file and the password stay on your device, unlike every tool that asks you to upload the document you're trying to secure.
No account
Free, no sign-up, no watermark.
How it works
Drop your PDF
Read locally.
Set a password
Choose and confirm it.
Protect & download
The encrypted file needs the password to open.
Questions
How do I password-protect a PDF for free?+
Drop the PDF in, set a password, and download the encrypted file. It's AES-256, done in your browser, and the file and password are never uploaded.
Is it really encrypted, or just hidden?+
Really encrypted, with AES-256 via qpdf. The file cannot be opened without the password.
Can you recover my password?+
No. Nothing is uploaded, so we never see the file or the password. If you lose it, the file can't be opened, so keep it safe.