Add a password to a PDF for free 13 uses

Encrypt a PDF with a password so only people you share it with can open it.

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AES-256 encryption — the same standard used by most PDF readers
File and password are discarded immediately after your download starts
Free, no account required

How it works

1
Upload the PDF you want to secure or unlock.
2
Enter a password — a new one to protect it, or the existing one to remove it.
3
The file is re-encrypted or decrypted in place.
4
Download the result.

Why use this tool

Every PDF task, one place

Merge, split, compress, convert, sign, and more — no need to juggle separate apps for each job.

Private by default

Most tools process your file entirely in the browser — it's never uploaded. When a conversion needs the server, the file is deleted within the hour.

Works on any device

Runs in the browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android — nothing to install, nothing to trust but the tab.

Fast by design

No queues and no desktop app to wait on — most jobs finish in a few seconds, right where you are.

Convert to and from any format

Move between PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, and HTML — output stays true to your original formatting.

Free, always

Every tool here is free to use, with no watermarks, page limits, or forced trial period.

Frequently asked questions

Files are secured using industry-standard AES-256 bit encryption, the strongest format available for PDFs.

This utility applies a strict user password required simply to open the document, locking out all access completely without it.

No. Because the encryption is secure, the password cannot be recovered. Keep it stored safely in a password manager.

No, the internal document is untouched; it is merely wrapped in an encrypted shell.

Yes, any standard PDF viewer on iOS or Android will prompt the user to enter the password before displaying the file.

From the blog

How to Make Your PDFs Accessible: Screen Readers and Standards

A practical guide to making PDF documents accessible for screen readers and compliant with WCAG standards without rebuilding them from scratch.

How to Sign, Secure, and Password Protect Your PDFs Online

Learn how to protect sensitive information in your PDFs, apply password encryption, and electronically sign documents directly in your browser securely.

5 PDF Mistakes That Silently Kill Your Documents (and How to Fix Them)

Most PDF problems don't announce themselves — they surface weeks later when a printer rejects your file or a recipient sees garbled text. Here are the five most common mistakes and how to avoid every one of them.

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