About Protect PDF
Add a password to a PDF before emailing it to a client, contractor, or anyone outside your organization — useful for financial statements, HR paperwork, or legal documents that shouldn't be openly readable in transit.
How to protect pdf
- 1Upload the PDF you want to protect.
- 2Set a password the recipient will need to open the file.
- 3Click Run Protect PDF.
- 4Download the encrypted PDF and share the password with the recipient through a separate channel.
Tips
Send the password by text or a phone call rather than in the same email as the attachment — it defeats the purpose otherwise.
Use a password the recipient can reasonably type or remember; overly complex passwords for a one-time document just cause support requests.
Keep a note of the password yourself — if you lose it, you'll need the Unlock PDF tool and the correct password to remove protection later.
FAQ
Is password-protecting a PDF free?
Yes, free with no account needed.
Is there a file size limit?
The PDF can be up to 100 MB.
Do you keep a copy of my password or file?
No. The file is processed over HTTPS and deleted automatically, along with the output, within 1 hour.
Can I protect a PDF from my phone?
Yes, in any modern mobile browser.