How to Protect a PDF with a Password

Protect a PDF with a password free in your browser — Password protect PDF

Upload the PDF you own to encrypt free online — Upload PDF

Set a strong password for private PDF protection — Set password

Download the encrypted PDF with no watermark — Download protected file

Encryption runs locally. Pair protection with PDF file compression online free only if you also need a smaller file — compress first, then protect, when both size and privacy matter.

Download the password-protected PDF file — Download protected PDF

Password protection stops casual opening of a PDF. It is useful for contracts, ID scans and anything you would not post in a public folder.

On PDFStudio Pro, encryption runs in the browser with the free Protect PDF tool. We do not see your password or the file contents.

Steps

Open Protect PDF.
Upload the PDF you own.
Enter a strong password and confirm it. Avoid reusing a login password you use elsewhere.
Download the protected file. Send the password by a different channel (call, SMS or password manager), not in the same email as the attachment.

Unlocking

If you forgot a password on a file you own, try Unlock PDF with the correct password. The tool cannot guess unknown passwords offline.

Open Protect PDF

Related tools and guides

Merge PDF · Compress PDF · Protect PDF · JPG to PDF · PDF to Word · PDF Tools hub · All guides · FAQ