Protect a PDF with a password, free and private.
Choose a password and get a PDF that only opens with it, encrypted with AES-256, the strongest encryption in the PDF standard. The file and the password aren't uploaded.
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Tables become real cells, numbers become numbers
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Each file is split the same way
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
e.g. 3, 7 — leave empty to split every page separately
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Applied to every page, or only to the pages you enter below
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
A page number on every page, bottom centre unless you choose another position
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Each file has the same pages removed
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
e.g. 2, 5-7
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
The same pages are taken from each file
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
e.g. 1, 3-5
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
The watermark is added to every page
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
e.g. CONFIDENTIAL
A PNG with a transparent background works best. Up to 10 MB.
Drop JPG or PNG images here, or click to choose
All images go into one PDF – change the order below if needed
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Every page becomes one JPG image
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
e.g. 1, 3-5 — leave empty to convert every page
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Every file gets the same password
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Remember it well: nobody can recover a forgotten password, not even us. It stays in your browser.
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
The same password is tried on every file
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Leave empty for a file that opens without a password but blocks printing or copying.
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Your signature goes on every file at the same place
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drag your signature to the right place
Create your signature above and it appears here.
Tip: click the signature and move it with the arrow keys (hold Shift for bigger steps).
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Several pages of your PDF on each sheet, ready to print
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Cut margins off every page, or trim the white edges
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Preview: the dashed box is what stays
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
See what the file says about itself, then remove it
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Leave a field empty to remove it. Dates and software names are always removed.
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
The text of your PDF as a plain .txt file
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Every picture in your PDF as a separate file
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
See every page, then put them in the right order
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Scanned pages get an invisible, searchable text layer
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Takes a few seconds per page; a long scan can take minutes.
Drop 2 PDFs here (old and new), or click to choose
Text differences, word by word, page by page
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Add 2 PDFs: first the old version, then the new one.
removed text added text
Drop a PDF here, or click to choose
Draw black boxes over what must disappear
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Pages with a black box become an image: text there can no longer be selected or searched. Pages without a box stay as they are.
Draw a box over everything that must disappear
Drag with your mouse or finger to draw a box. To remove a box: click it, or reach it with the Tab key, and press Delete.
Drop one or more PDFs here, or click to choose
Form fields and comments become part of the page
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Drop a PDF here, or click to choose
Fill in its form fields or add text to a page
Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone. Check for yourself that your files aren't uploaded
Form fields
Add text: click on the page where it should go
Tip: select a box with Tab or a click and move it with the arrow keys (hold Shift for bigger steps); Delete removes it.
How to password-protect a PDF
Choose your PDF
Drop one or more PDFs in the tool or click to browse. Your browser reads them itself; your files aren't uploaded.
Type a password twice
Choose a password and type it again to rule out typos. Every file you added gets this password.
Download the protected PDF
The encrypted file is created on your device. From now on, PDF readers ask for the password before they show it.
Tips for protecting a PDF
Title and author are hidden too
Besides the pages, the document's title, author and other details are encrypted, so they can't be read without the password. The file name stays visible, so choose a neutral one.
Use a long passphrase
A password can be up to 127 plain letters or digits. Accented letters and other scripts count double or triple, because a longer password wouldn't open in every PDF viewer.
All or nothing
If part of a damaged file can't be encrypted safely, the tool doesn't protect it at all, rather than leave some content readable. You get a clear message instead of a half-protected file.
Honest about the limits
A forgotten password can't be recovered, not even by us. And we don't add print or copy locks: in a PDF they are only a request to the reader app and easy to get around.
Questions about protecting a PDF
How do I put a password on a PDF for free?
Drop the PDF in the tool above, type a password twice and click Protect PDF. The protected file downloads right away; with several files you get one zip.
How strong is the protection?
The file is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest encryption in the PDF standard. Without the password the content cannot be read. A long password that is hard to guess gives the best protection.
What if I forget the password?
Then nobody can open the file any more, not even us: the password isn't sent or stored. Keep the original PDF, or write the password down somewhere safe.
Is my password sent to a server?
No. The password and the file stay in your browser. The encryption is done by your browser's built-in cryptography, on your own device.
Does the protected PDF open in every PDF reader?
Current PDF readers and browsers support this encryption: they ask for the password and then show the document as usual. Very old readers, from before about 2010, may not open it.
Can I also block printing or copying?
Not with this tool. Such restrictions in a PDF are only a request to the reader app and are easy to get around, so we don't pretend they protect anything. The password protects opening the file.
Can I protect a PDF that already has a password?
First remove the old password with Unlock PDF (you need to know it), then set a new one here. A file that only has editing restrictions can be protected straight away.
Is there a limit on file size?
Not from our side. The practical limit depends on the memory of your own device; on a normal laptop or smartphone, documents of hundreds of pages usually work fine. If a file is very large for your device, the tool warns you first. Guideline: up to 50 MB works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone.
Does this work on my phone?
Yes, the tool works in any modern browser. Very large files can run out of memory on a phone, especially an older one; a laptop or desktop handles them better.
Important to know
Keep a copy of your original file and keep your password somewhere safe. This site is provided without warranty; use is at your own risk. Full terms of use.