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Password protect a PDF

Lock a PDF with a password and AES-256 encryption, without uploading the file you are trying to keep private.

Drop PDFs to protector click to choose files. Batches welcome.

    There is no way to recover a forgotten password. Keep the original, or save the password in a password manager.

    Working…

    Done

    Your files are processed on this device and never sent to a server. Reload the page to clear everything from memory.

    How it works

    1. Drop one or more PDFs.
    2. Type the password twice.
    3. Save the protected copies. Anyone opening them is asked for the password.

    In your browser, not on a server

    qpdf, compiled to WebAssembly and served by this site, encrypts each PDF with AES-256 using the password you type, the same standard Acrobat uses. The encrypted file is written in your tab and handed to your browser’s download.

    Compared with upload-based tools: Uploading a document to protect it hands the unprotected copy to a stranger first. Here the only copy that ever exists outside your device is the encrypted one you choose to send.

    Verify it yourself. Load this page, turn off Wi-Fi or switch to airplane mode, and run the tool. Or open your browser's developer tools (F12, or Cmd-Option-I on a Mac), pick the Network tab, and watch it while you convert. The panel above does the same count for you.

    Questions

    How strong is the protection?

    The PDF is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest standard PDF encryption, which Adobe Acrobat, Preview, Chrome, Edge and Firefox all open. The protection is only as strong as the password, so use a long one.

    What if I forget the password?

    The file cannot be recovered, by us or anyone else: there is no copy of the password anywhere. Keep the unprotected original, or store the password in a password manager.

    Why not use an online PDF protector?

    Because the reason to add a password is that the file is private, and an online protector has the unprotected file the moment you upload it. Here the encryption happens on your device.

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    Rotate PDF

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