How to use Protect PDF with Password
Choose a PDF, type a password of at least 6 characters twice, choose whether readers may print and copy, then press Protect PDF and download the encrypted file.
Choosing a password
Use at least 10 characters, ideally three or four unrelated words. Send the password by a different route from the file, for example the PDF by email and the password by text message. There is no recovery if the password is lost, so keep it in a password manager and keep your unprotected original.
What blocking printing and copying does
Readers that follow the PDF rules, such as Adobe Acrobat and browsers, will open the file with the password but refuse to print, copy text or edit it. Not every app honours these flags, so treat them as a deterrent. The open password itself is real encryption.
How it works
qpdf, running in your browser, encrypts the file with 256-bit AES
Examples
- Worked example
Protect a payslip with a password before emailing it.
Limitations and assumptions
There is no way to recover a forgotten password, so store it safely. Blocking printing and copying depends on the reader app honouring it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I encrypt a PDF with a password?
Choose the PDF, type the password twice and press Protect PDF. Anyone opening the downloaded file is asked for that password.
Which apps can open the protected PDF?
Any current PDF reader, including Adobe Acrobat Reader, Chrome, Edge, Safari and phone viewers, as they all support AES-256.
Is my file or password uploaded?
No. Encryption runs in your browser and neither the file nor the password leaves your device.