PDF Protect

Encrypt a PDF with password protection. Set permissions for printing, copying, and editing.

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1. Upload the PDF file you want to protect with a password. 2. Enter a user password (required to open the document) and/or an owner password (controls editing and printing permissions). 3. Configure the permission checkboxes to allow or restrict printing, text copying, and document editing. 4. Review your password and permission settings to ensure they match your security requirements. 5. Click "Protect PDF" to encrypt the document with the specified passwords and permissions. 6. Download the password-protected PDF and store your password in a safe place, as it cannot be recovered.

About This Tool

PDF Protect lets you add password encryption to any PDF document, restricting who can open it and what they can do with it. Set an owner password to control permissions like printing, copying text, and editing, and optionally set a user password that must be entered before the document can even be viewed. This is essential for protecting sensitive contracts, financial reports, and confidential documents.

The tool supports standard PDF encryption, letting you choose which actions to restrict. You can allow viewing but prevent printing, or allow printing but block text copying. The permission controls give you granular authority over how recipients interact with your document.

Everything runs in your browser using pdf-lib. Your PDF and passwords are processed locally - they are never transmitted to any server. The encrypted output is a standard password-protected PDF that works in all major PDF readers including Adobe Acrobat, Chrome, Firefox, and Preview on macOS.

Frequently Asked Questions

The user password (or open password) must be entered to view the document at all. The owner password controls what actions are allowed - printing, copying, editing. You can set one or both depending on your security needs.
The tool uses standard PDF encryption supported by pdf-lib. This provides solid protection for everyday document security. The encrypted file is compatible with all major PDF readers.
PDF encryption supports two levels: the owner who has full access, and everyone else who is subject to the permissions you set. There is no way to create multiple permission tiers within a single PDF file.
No. The password is used only during encryption in your browser and is never stored, logged, or transmitted. If you forget the password, there is no way to recover it, so keep it in a safe place.
Yes. The encryption follows the PDF specification standard, so the protected file opens correctly in Adobe Acrobat, Chrome built-in viewer, Firefox, Apple Preview, and other compliant PDF readers.

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