Is this tool really free?

Yes, all our PDF tools are completely free to use with no hidden costs, subscriptions, or per-file charges. We support the service through non-intrusive advertising, not by charging for basic document operations. You can use any tool as many times as you like, with no daily limits, file size restrictions, or account requirements whatsoever.

Absolutely. All PDF processing happens directly in your browser using local JavaScript and WebAssembly libraries. Your files are never uploaded to any server, never stored in the cloud, and never transmitted over the internet. The files remain entirely on your device from start to finish, giving you complete control over your sensitive and confidential documents.

What encryption is used?

We use AES-256 encryption, the industry standard recommended by security agencies worldwide and used to protect classified government data. This level of encryption is computationally infeasible to break with current technology. The entire encryption process runs locally in your browser, so neither the document nor the password are ever transmitted to any server.

Can I set different permissions?

Yes, you can independently control printing, text copying, content editing, form filling, and annotation permissions. Setting granular permissions lets you share a document that recipients can read and print but cannot edit or copy text from. These permission controls work in all PDF readers that comply with the PDF security specification, including Adobe Acrobat Reader.

What is the difference between owner and user passwords?

The user (open) password is required to open the document at all. The owner password grants full access including the ability to change security settings. You can set both passwords to be different, or use only one of them. Setting only permissions without a user password allows anyone to open the file but restricts what they can do with it.

Will my recipients need special software?

No special software is required. Any standard PDF reader — including Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), Preview on macOS, built-in browser PDF viewers, and Foxit Reader — can open and display password-protected PDFs. The recipient simply enters the password when prompted after opening the file. The protected format is fully compatible across all platforms.

What happens if I forget the password?

If you lose the password to a document you encrypted, the content cannot be recovered. AES-256 encryption is designed to make brute-force recovery computationally infeasible. We have no access to your passwords or files at any time, so we cannot assist with password recovery. Always store passwords securely using a password manager when encrypting important documents.

How to Use

1
Upload PDF
Upload the PDF document you want to password-protect and encrypt.
2
Set owner password
Enter a strong owner password that controls access to document permissions and settings.
3
Set user password
Optionally set a separate user password that recipients must enter to open the document.
4
Configure permissions
Choose which actions to allow or restrict: printing, copying text, editing, and form filling.
5
Encrypt and download
Click Encrypt to apply AES-256 encryption, then download your secured PDF.

All Tools

Encrypt PDF

Protect your PDF with password encryption and configure fine-grained permissions that control whether recipients can print, copy text, or make further edits to the document. You can set a separate owner password for full access and a user password that is required just to open the file. This is commonly used to restrict access to confidential reports, protect intellectual property in shared documents, or comply with data handling policies that mandate encryption at rest. Encryption is applied using AES-256, which is the current PDF security standard.

Drag & drop a PDF file here

or click to select

Only PDF files are accepted

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this tool really free?: Yes, all our PDF tools are completely free to use with no hidden costs, subscriptions, or per-file charges. We support the service through non-intrusive advertising, not by charging for basic document operations. You can use any tool as many times as you like, with no daily limits, file size restrictions, or account requirements whatsoever.
Are my files secure?: Absolutely. All PDF processing happens directly in your browser using local JavaScript and WebAssembly libraries. Your files are never uploaded to any server, never stored in the cloud, and never transmitted over the internet. The files remain entirely on your device from start to finish, giving you complete control over your sensitive and confidential documents.
Do I need to create an account?: No registration or account is required to use any of our tools. Simply navigate to the tool you need, upload your file, configure any options, and download the result. There are no sign-in walls, email verification steps, or profile setup processes. We designed these tools to be immediately accessible without any friction or onboarding.
What browsers are supported?: Our tools work on all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Brave on both desktop and mobile devices. JavaScript must be enabled for the tools to function. For best performance with large files, we recommend using a recent version of Chrome or Firefox on a desktop computer with adequate memory available.
What encryption is used?: We use AES-256 encryption, the industry standard recommended by security agencies worldwide and used to protect classified government data. This level of encryption is computationally infeasible to break with current technology. The entire encryption process runs locally in your browser, so neither the document nor the password are ever transmitted to any server.
Can I set different permissions?: Yes, you can independently control printing, text copying, content editing, form filling, and annotation permissions. Setting granular permissions lets you share a document that recipients can read and print but cannot edit or copy text from. These permission controls work in all PDF readers that comply with the PDF security specification, including Adobe Acrobat Reader.
What is the difference between owner and user passwords?: The user (open) password is required to open the document at all. The owner password grants full access including the ability to change security settings. You can set both passwords to be different, or use only one of them. Setting only permissions without a user password allows anyone to open the file but restricts what they can do with it.
Will my recipients need special software?: No special software is required. Any standard PDF reader — including Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), Preview on macOS, built-in browser PDF viewers, and Foxit Reader — can open and display password-protected PDFs. The recipient simply enters the password when prompted after opening the file. The protected format is fully compatible across all platforms.
What happens if I forget the password?: If you lose the password to a document you encrypted, the content cannot be recovered. AES-256 encryption is designed to make brute-force recovery computationally infeasible. We have no access to your passwords or files at any time, so we cannot assist with password recovery. Always store passwords securely using a password manager when encrypting important documents.

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