Password protect a PDF

Add a password to a PDF and encrypt it with AES-256. You can also restrict printing and copying.

1. Choose a PDF to protect

Choose one PDF. Long documents work too.

Drag and drop a PDF here

or

2. Set a password

This is the password needed to open the PDF.

Use at least 8 characters and mix letters, numbers and symbols to stay safe.

Restrict printing and copying (optional)

3. Download

Choose a PDF and set a password to save it.

If you forget the password, no one will be able to open this PDF. Make sure to keep a note of it.

Everything happens on this device. Your PDF and password are never sent anywhere.

Your original PDF stays as it is. A password-protected copy is saved.

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How to use

  1. 1. Choose a PDF

    Tap “Choose files” and pick the PDF you want to protect. The PDF’s name and page count appear.

  2. 2. Enter the password twice

    Under “Set a password”, tap “Password” and type it, then type the same one in “Enter it again (confirm)”. Tap the eye button on the right of the field to check what you typed.

  3. 3. Restrict printing or copying if needed

    To stop people from printing or copying, tap to turn on “Block printing” or “Block copying text and editing” below. In the “Password to remove restrictions” field that appears, enter a password different from the one above. Skip this step if you don’t need restrictions.

  4. 4. Download

    Scroll down and tap “Protect and download”.

Great for

  • Before emailing documents

    When you attach quotes, contracts or contact lists to an email. Even if it goes to the wrong person, they can’t see the contents without the password. Share the password another way, such as by phone or chat.

    People who send documents to clients

  • Storing files in the cloud or on a USB drive

    For PDFs you don’t want others to see, like pay slips, copies of ID cards or tax documents. Even if you lose the device, what’s inside the PDF stays safe.

    People who keep important papers as files

  • Handouts you don’t want printed or copied

    For materials people may read but shouldn’t print or copy text from. Set a separate “Password to remove restrictions” and you alone can still use the PDF without limits.

    People who hand out course or seminar materials

  • When you can’t install software at work

    Add a password with just your browser, no paid software like Acrobat needed. Your PDF is never uploaded, so it works even for documents that must not leave the company.

    People whose workplace limits what they can install

Good to know before you start

  • If you forget the password, no one can open the PDF, and papatto can’t recover it either. Keep a note of the password and keep the original PDF too.
  • Printing and copying restrictions only work if the app opening the PDF respects them. Some apps ignore them, so don’t give the opening password to anyone who shouldn’t see the contents.
  • It doesn’t work on PDFs that already have a password. Also, adding a password to a digitally signed PDF makes the signature invalid.

About passwords and encryption

When you add a password, all the text, images and page data in the PDF are encrypted with a method called AES-256. If someone without the password opens the file, they only see meaningless data and can’t read anything. AES-256 is the strongest encryption available for PDFs today, and the file opens in Acrobat, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Preview on Mac and more.

A PDF can have two passwords: the “Password” to open it, and the “Password to remove restrictions” (also called the permissions password or owner password). Usually the opening password is all you need. Only set the second one when you want to restrict printing or copying. All encryption is done with a feature built into your browser (Web Crypto), so neither the PDF nor the password ever leaves your device.

Types of protection you can add
What it doesBest for
Password onlyOnly people who know the password can open it. Once opened, they can also print and copySending or storing documents — most cases
Password + printing/copying restrictionsEven after opening it, people can’t print or copy text (in apps that support this)Materials meant for viewing only
Opened with the password to remove restrictionsPrinting, copying and editing all work without limitsWhen the creator uses it

FAQ

Answers to common questions before you start.

Is my PDF or password sent anywhere?

No. Encryption happens inside your browser on your device, and neither the PDF nor the password is ever uploaded to a server.

What if I forget the password?

The PDF can no longer be opened. AES-256 encryption is practically impossible to break without the password, and papatto can’t recover it either. Keep a note of the password and keep the original PDF too.

How strong is the encryption?

It uses AES-256 (a 256-bit key), the strongest method allowed by the PDF standard (PDF 2.0). However, short or easy-to-guess passwords are easier to crack. Use at least 8 characters and mix letters, numbers and symbols. You can also use Password generator to create one.

Which apps can open it?

Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader (version X or later), browsers such as Chrome, Edge and Firefox, Preview on Mac and more. On phones, the Acrobat Reader app is the most reliable. Very old PDF software may not support AES-256 and may fail to open it.

Can I use non-English characters in the password?

You can, but we don’t recommend it. Apps handle characters like accented letters, Japanese or full-width characters differently, so the PDF may not open even with the right password. Stick to letters, numbers and symbols and it opens in any app.

Can I block only printing or copying?

Yes. Turn on “Block printing” and/or “Block copying text and editing”, then set a “Password to remove restrictions”. People who open the PDF with the opening password get the restrictions, while anyone using the password to remove restrictions can use it freely. Press “Choose in detail” to pick high-quality printing, comments, form filling and more one by one (for example, allow only filling in forms).

Can I add only restrictions, without a password to open?

Yes. Leave “Password” empty, turn on a restriction and set a “Password to remove restrictions”. Anyone can open the PDF, but restrictions such as printing and copying still apply.

Do restrictions guarantee that no one can print or copy?

No. Restrictions only work if the app opening the PDF respects them; some apps don’t, and people can always take screenshots. For contents you truly want to keep private, rely on the opening password.

Can I remove or change the password?

This tool only adds passwords, and PDFs that already have one can’t be chosen. To change the password, start again from the original PDF (without a password).

Will my original PDF change?

No. The original PDF stays as it is, and the password-protected copy is saved with “-protected” added to the name. The page content and image quality don’t change either.

Does it work on phones?

Yes. On iPhone it’s saved to Downloads in the Files app, and on Android to the Download folder. You can attach it to an email or chat right away.

Is it free?

Yes. No sign-up and no ads.

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