Protect PDF
Protect up to 10 PDF files with AES-256, or restrict printing, copying, and editing.
Your file is uploaded over a secure connection and processed on our server. The original is deleted right after processing, the result after 1 hour (24 hours in your account).
Select up to 10 PDF files, the same settings apply to all. Choose “Password to open” to require a password to access the document, or “Restrictions only” to let it open without one while limiting permissions. Click “Protect PDF” to process the files.
In “Password to open” mode, turn on “Also restrict printing, copying and editing” to set permissions too. Choose whether to allow printing, copying text, editing and page changes, comments, and form filling. At least one permission must be turned off for restrictions to apply. In “Restrictions only” mode, copying and editing are off by default, printing, comments, and form filling stay allowed.
Enter and repeat a password of 1–128 characters. The strength indicator is only a hint. An optional owner password can change restrictions, but must differ from the password to open.
Or generate a 16-character password in your browser. Copy it and save it safely. Generated passwords are not stored, and forgotten passwords cannot be recovered.
Download the protected PDFs after processing. A ZIP download is offered for multiple files.
The tool uses AES-256 only, the PDF 2.0 standard. It encrypts without re-rendering pages, preserving text, document properties, bookmarks, and forms.
Guests can process files up to 50 MB and 200 pages each, registered users can process files up to 100 MB and 500 pages each. Guests can run 2 jobs at once, compared with 4 for registered users. Server jobs are limited to 15 minutes. Split files that exceed the page or size limit before protecting them.
The tool is free, requires no registration, and adds no watermark. Already-protected PDFs are refused, remove their protection with the Unlock PDF tool before trying again.
Protect up to 10 PDFs in one batch, using the same settings for every file. Use separate jobs if files need different passwords or permissions.
FAQ
What happens if one PDF in my selection is already protected?
That file is refused before upload and marked “Already protected”. Other files in the same batch can still be processed. First use the Unlock PDF tool to remove the existing protection, then try protecting that PDF again.
Can printing or copying restrictions prevent everyone from bypassing them?
No. Most PDF programs respect restrictions, but some may ignore them. Only a password to open protects access to the content.
Can I recover a password if I forget it?
No. The tool cannot recover a forgotten password. Keep a safe copy somewhere you can access before protecting the PDF.
How are my PDF and password handled?
The PDF is uploaded over HTTPS and processed on the server. The original is deleted right after processing. Protected results are kept for 1 hour for guests or 24 hours for registered users, then deleted automatically. Passwords are erased after processing and are not stored in history, presets, or logs.
Can each PDF in a batch have different protection settings?
No. A batch uses the same settings for every selected PDF. If you need different passwords or permissions, process those files in separate jobs.