Protect PDF

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Drop your PDF here

or click to browse your files · Max file size: 1 GB per PDF

Max file size: 1 GB per PDF

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This file already requires a password to open, so it can't be re-protected as-is.

· Unlock it first →

Protect

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Password

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Confirm password

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Restriction password

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Anyone can still open and read the file — this only enforces the restrictions below in PDF readers that respect them, not a content lock.

Permissions Allow printing Allow copying text & images Allow editing

Compress (Optional)

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Ready to download

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Your file and password are used only to produce this download and aren't stored on our servers — please download it now.

How protecting a PDF works here

Three steps, no software to install.

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Upload your PDF

We check first whether it's already password protected — if it needs a password to open, you'll be pointed to Unlock PDF instead of hitting a dead end.

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Choose how to protect it

Set a real password to open the file, or a restriction-only password that leaves it readable but limits printing, copying, or editing. Either way you pick exactly which permissions to allow.

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Export and download

Get your protected file back right away. It's only used to build your download and isn't kept on our servers afterward.

Other PDF tools

compareCompare PDF lock_openUnlock PDF call_mergeMerge PDF call_splitSplit PDF rotate_rightRotate PDF aspect_ratioResize PDF compressCompress PDF

Frequently asked questions

Everything worth knowing before you protect a PDF here.

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What's the difference between the two protection modes?

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"Password to open" genuinely encrypts the file (AES-256) — nobody can even view it without the password. "Restrict only" leaves it openable by anyone, but asks compliant PDF readers to honor whichever permissions you leave unchecked (printing, copying, editing).

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Does "Restrict only" actually stop someone from printing or editing my file?

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It stops well-behaved PDF readers from offering those actions — the same mechanism every PDF password tool uses for permissions. It isn't a content lock, so if that distinction matters for your file, use "Password to open" instead.

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Can I remove the protection later?

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Yes — use Unlock PDF with the same password (or no password at all, for a restriction-only file) to get an unprotected copy back.

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Can I protect a file that already has a password?

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Not directly — we'll ask you to unlock it first. This avoids silently guessing at an existing password that might not match what you're entering here.

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Does protecting reduce quality?

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No — encryption doesn't touch the page content at all. The optional Compress step is separate and only runs if you turn it on.

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What's the largest PDF I can protect?

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PDFs up to 1 GB are supported.

Handled with real security practices

A few specifics, not boilerplate claims.

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Real AES-256 encryption

"Password to open" is genuine 256-bit encryption, not a wrapper that just hides the file.

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No file retention

Your PDF and password are processed only long enough to build your download, then deleted immediately.

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Abuse protection

Every upload is size-checked, and abusive IP addresses can be blocked instantly.

See our full security practices →