Protect PDF
AES-256 open password with optional printing, copying and editing limits
Drag & drop files here
or browse files
Add password protection to contracts, quotations and ID scans
About this tool
Putting a password on a contract, quotation or scanned ID before sending it is the most basic document protection. This tool applies AES-256 encryption to your PDF through a WASM build of qpdf: set an open password that is required to view the file, and optionally restrict printing, text copying and modification. Every standard reader will then ask for the password before opening.
The password is set on your machine and written into the file locally - nothing is uploaded. And an honest reminder: AES-256 has no back door. If the open password is lost, the file cannot be recovered, so store it somewhere safe, and make sure you have the right to protect the document.
Features
- AES-256 encryption (the strongest PDF standard) with an open password
- Optional restrictions: no printing, no text copy, no modification
- A separate owner (permissions) password can be set
- qpdf WASM encrypts locally - file and password never uploaded
- Free, no signup, no limits, no watermark
How to use
- Drop or select the PDF you want to protect
- Set the open password, plus an owner password if needed
- Tick the allowed actions: printing, copying, modifying
- Click Encrypt PDF and download the protected file
Frequently asked questions
- What encryption is used, and is it safe?
- AES-256, the strongest encryption defined for PDFs, supported by Adobe, Foxit and every mainstream reader. Strength ultimately depends on the password: use 12+ characters mixing upper and lower case letters and digits.
- Open password vs permissions password?
- The open (user) password is required to view the file at all. The permissions (owner) password controls the printing/copying/editing restrictions. With only a permissions password set, anyone can still open and read the file under your restrictions. Set both, and make them different.
- What if I forget the password I set?
- No tool can recover an AES-256 password - record it somewhere safe when encrypting. For files you encrypted yourself, restoration is only possible from a backup or another copy.
- Is the encrypted file uploaded?
- No. Encryption runs in your browser through qpdf WASM; the file and the password only ever exist in local memory, and the tool works offline.