About this tool
Sending bank statements, ID copies or medical records by email? Add a password first. PDFly encrypts the whole document with AES-256, the strongest encryption in the PDF standard. Anyone opening the file must type the password; without it the content is unreadable.
You can allow or block printing. Encryption happens in your browser, so your password and document are never transmitted. Choose a password you will remember — it cannot be recovered.
How to password-protect a PDF
- 1
Add a PDF
Choose the file to protect.
- 2
Set a password
Type it twice to avoid mistakes.
- 3
Choose permissions
Allow or disallow printing.
- 4
Encrypt and download
Press “Protect PDF” and save the encrypted file.
Questions about Protect PDF
How strong is the protection?
AES-256 is the strongest encryption defined in the PDF standard. Security mostly depends on your password: use at least 8 characters with numbers and symbols.
I forgot the password. Can you recover it?
No. We never see your password or your file, and strong encryption cannot be bypassed. Keep an unprotected original in a safe place.
How do I send the password?
Use a different channel than the file — for example send the PDF by email and the password by SMS.
Related tools
📖 Helpful guides
How to Sign a PDF Online Without Printing
Draw, type or upload your signature, place it on the page and send the signed PDF — from a phone or computer.
How to Password-Protect a PDF (and Choose a Good Password)
Encrypt sensitive PDFs with AES-256, share the password safely and avoid the most common mistakes.
PDFly has 21 free tools for PDF files and images.