Your files never leave your device — 100% local processing

Password Protect PDF

Creates a PDF that cannot be opened without the password (AES-256).

There is no way to recover a forgotten password — keep it somewhere safe.

0 B uploaded — this page has not sent your files anywhere?

Private by design — this tool never uploads your files anywhere. Everything runs inside your browser, and the finished file is saved straight to your device.

Other conversion sites upload your file to a server, process it there, and say they delete it after a while. Until that happens, your file sits on someone else’s server. Here there is no upload step at all. The more sensitive the file — contracts, ID scans, medical records — the more that difference matters. See how to verify it →

Lock a payslip or contract with a password before you email it

Documents that would cause trouble if they reached the wrong inbox, such as payslips, quotes or a copy of an ID, are safer sent with a password on the file itself. This tool applies an AES-256 open password to a PDF and saves a new copy that cannot be opened without it. The encryption runs in your browser; the file is never uploaded.

A closer look

The encryption is done by qpdf compiled to WebAssembly. The first run spends a few seconds loading that module; after that it is immediate. It uses the PDF standard’s 256-bit AES encryption, and the password you type is set as both the open password and the owner password. That means anyone who has the password can open, print and copy without restriction; there is no option here for partial permissions such as blocking printing only. The content is untouched and only wrapped in encryption, so text selection, search and image quality are exactly as in the original.

A forgotten password cannot be recovered, not by this site or by anyone else. Keep the unprotected original somewhere safe, or store the password in a password manager. The protection only works if the password travels by a different route than the file. Writing it in the same email means that whoever receives the message by mistake can open the attachment too. Send it by text message or tell the recipient by phone.

How to use it

When it helps

Payroll and HR paperworkLock a payslip that contains personal data, then send the password separately by text.
Quotes and draft contractsMake sure only the intended recipient can read it, not everyone copied on the thread.
ID and bank detailsKeep a copy of an ID or a bank statement unreadable if the attachment leaks from an inbox later.
Cloud storageAdd a basic lock before uploading to a shared drive so a leaked link does not expose the document.

Common snags

It says “Please enter a password”.The password field is empty. The tool will not encrypt with a blank password. Type at least one character and press the button again.
It fails on a file that already has a password.The tool does not encrypt on top of existing encryption. Remove the current password with Unlock PDF, then apply the new one.
The recipient says the file will not open.First check that the password was passed on exactly. Very old PDF viewers do not support AES-256; in that case suggest opening it in a current browser or Acrobat Reader.
Can I use symbols in the password?Yes. Viewers do differ in how they handle non-Latin characters, though, so a mix of letters, digits and common symbols is the safest choice.

Tip Open the protected file yourself before sending it. It is the only way to catch a mistyped password, and if it will not open you can simply make a new copy from the original.

FAQ

How secure is it?

The file is encrypted with AES-256 — the same standard banks and governments use. With a long, complex password it is practically uncrackable.

What if I forget the password?

There is no recovery. Keep the original file somewhere safe, or store the password in a password manager.