Is this PDF password protector free?

Yes, completely free with no account, no watermarks, and no file size limits.

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No. All processing happens locally in your browser. Your PDF never leaves your device.

How strong should my password be?

At least 8 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. The strength meter rates your password. Use Generate Strong for a 16-character random password.

What are the permission controls?

Four controls: Allow Printing, Allow Copying, Allow Editing, and Allow Annotations. Each can be toggled on or off independently.

Can someone bypass the password?

Client-side protection provides a reasonable barrier. For enterprise-grade AES-256 encryption, use Adobe Acrobat or a server-side tool.

Can I protect multiple PDFs at once?

The tool currently processes one PDF at a time. Upload each file individually.

PDF Password Protector

Server-side AES-256 encryption — real password protection, shareable links & 7-day cloud storage

AES-256 EncryptionServer-Side ProcessingShareable Links

Drop PDF here or click to upload

PDF files only · Max 100 MB

Password

Confirm Password

Document Permissions

Allow Printing

Users can print the PDF

Allow Copying

Users can copy text/images

Allow Editing

Users can modify content

Allow Annotations

Users can add comments

Free Online PDF Password Protector — Real AES-256 Server-Side Encryption

Unlike browser-based tools that use weak JavaScript encryption, this tool sends your PDF to our secure server where it is encrypted using AES-256 via pikepdf/QPDF — the same engine used by Adobe Acrobat. The resulting PDF will prompt for a password in every standard viewer including Adobe Reader, Chrome, Firefox, and macOS Preview.

After encryption, you get two options: a direct download link for yourself, and a shareable link you can send to anyone. The share link tracks how many times the file has been downloaded. Both links automatically expire after 7 days — after which the file is permanently deleted from our servers.

You can also restrict document permissions: prevent printing, block text copying, disable editing, and disallow annotations — all enforced at the encryption level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is server-side encryption better?+

Browser-based PDF encryption (pdf-lib, ilovepdf clones) does not apply real AES encryption — most PDF viewers open those files without asking for a password. Our server uses pikepdf/QPDF which applies true AES-256 encryption that every standard PDF viewer enforces.

Is my file stored permanently?+

No. Your original and encrypted PDFs are stored on our server for a maximum of 7 days. After that they are permanently and automatically deleted by our cleanup system. We never share your files with third parties.

What is the shareable link?+

After encryption you receive a unique share link. Anyone who opens this link will automatically download the password-protected PDF. The link tracks download count and expires after 7 days.

What encryption standard is used?+

AES-256 with PDF revision 6 (the highest level), equivalent to what Adobe Acrobat applies. The encryption is handled by pikepdf which wraps the QPDF C++ library — a battle-tested, production-grade PDF engine.

What if I forget the password?+

There is no way to recover the password — AES-256 encryption cannot be reversed without it. Always save your password in a secure password manager. Keep the original unprotected file as a backup.

Do document permissions actually work?+

Yes. Permissions (printing, copying, editing, annotations) are set at the QPDF encryption layer and enforced by compliant PDF viewers. Note that a determined user with the owner password or a PDF editor tool could still bypass them — permissions are a deterrent, not a hard lock.

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