PDF Password Protector — Add Password to PDF Free
Add password protection to any PDF online free — no sign-up, no email, no uploads. Your PDF is encrypted entirely in your browser using AES encryption, so the file never leaves your device.
Last updated: June 2026
Drop PDF here or click to upload
Maximum 50 MB · processed in your browser
Permissions (optional)
About this tool
Add a password to your PDF
Some documents simply shouldn't be readable by anyone who happens upon them — bank statements, contracts, medical records, tax forms, or anything with personal details. A PDF password protector encrypts the file so it can only be opened by someone who knows the password, turning a sensitive PDF into a locked one.
To protect a file, drop it into the box above, choose a strong password, and confirm it. You can also decide whether the recipient is allowed to print the document or copy its text and images; editing is locked by default. Click Protect PDF and you'll get an encrypted copy to download. From then on, every PDF reader — Adobe Acrobat, your web browser, your phone — will demand the password before it shows a single page.
Crucially, all of this happens in your browser. The encryption is applied on your own device, so your confidential file is never uploaded to a server, and we never see or store your password. That makes this a far safer choice than tools that ask you to upload a sensitive document just to lock it. It's free, with no account and no limits. Because real encryption can't be reversed without the password, keep yours somewhere safe — and if you ever need to take a password off a file you can already open, use the PDF password remover.
How it works
Three quick steps — no account, nothing uploaded to a server.
Upload your PDF
Drag and drop or click to select. Up to 50 MB. Files never leave your browser.
Set a password
Choose a strong password to encrypt the PDF with AES.
Download instantly
Your processed file downloads immediately. No account, no watermarks, no limits.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I password protect a PDF?
Upload your PDF, type a password (and confirm it), optionally set whether printing and copying are allowed, then click Protect PDF. The tool encrypts the file so it can only be opened with that password, and gives you the protected copy to download.
Is the encryption real?
Yes. The PDF is encrypted with a standard, password-based scheme, so anyone who opens it in Acrobat, a browser, or any PDF reader will be prompted for the password. It's genuine protection, not just a hidden flag.
What happens if I forget the password?
There is no way to recover it. Encryption means the password is required to decrypt the file, and we never store it — everything happens in your browser. Save your password somewhere safe before you close the page.
Can I control printing and copying?
Yes. You can choose whether the protected PDF allows printing and whether text and images can be copied out of it. Editing is disabled by default. These permission settings travel with the file.
Is my PDF uploaded to encrypt it?
No. Encryption is performed entirely in your browser on your own device, so your file is never uploaded — the most private way to protect a sensitive document.
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