Privacy & security
How to Password Protect a PDF (and Limit Printing and Copying)
Keep a sensitive PDF private with a password, and decide what people can do with it once it is open.
· 4 min read
Drop your PDF to open it
Protect PDF with a password
Lock your PDF with strong AES-256 encryption so only people with the password can open it. Free, and your file never leaves your device.
or drop a PDF here
Your file and password never leave your device — protecting happens in your browser.
Protecting your PDF…
Your PDF is protected!
How to password protect a PDF
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1
Add your PDF
Click “Select PDF file” or drag and drop a PDF onto this page.
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2
Choose a password
Type a password twice. If you like, also block printing, copying or editing.
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3
Protect and download
Click “Protect PDF”, then download your locked file.
Need more than a tool?
Let a PDF expert do it for you.
Fix text and fonts, rebuild forms, add bookmarks, redact private data — our experts handle the jobs a tool can’t.
Frequently asked questions
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Is Protect PDF free?
Yes. Password protecting PDFs on PDFixed is completely free, with no sign-up and no watermarks.
Can you see my password or my file?
No. Your PDF is locked right here in your browser. Neither the file nor the password is ever sent to our servers.
How strong is the protection?
Your PDF is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest standard PDF encryption. It opens in Adobe Acrobat, browsers and all modern PDF apps once the password is typed.
What if I forget the password?
We never see or store your password, so we can’t recover it. Keep it somewhere safe, and keep an unlocked copy of important files.
Can I stop people printing or copying?
Yes. Tick “Also limit what people can do” and choose whether printing, copying and editing are allowed.
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