PDF Protected PDF
Add password protection to a PDF. Free, no signup, files deleted after 1 hour.
Free1 fileMax 50MB totalView Basic and Pro plans →
About Protect PDF
Add an open password to a PDF, plus an optional permissions password with rules for printing, copying and editing. Printing is allowed unless you untick it, and copying and editing stay blocked unless you allow them. Ghostscript encrypts the file with 128-bit RC4, the standard security handler from PDF 1.4, which every PDF reader can open. Set your own permissions password, because an empty one is filled in from your open password.
Frequently asked questions
Can a password-protected PDF still be searched?
Only by someone who can open it. From outside the encryption, even the text layer is unreadable.
Should I use AES-128 or AES-256?
This tool doesn't offer AES and always uses 128-bit RC4, which PDF 2.0 deprecates. For sensitive documents, encrypt with AES-256 in Acrobat or qpdf instead.