Password Protect PDF
Add a password to any PDF with AES-256 encryption and optionally block printing, copying or editing. Free, in your browser, nothing uploaded.
- No uploads
- No limits
- No signup
Drop a PDF to protect here
or click to browse · paste works too
- Input:
- Output:
- Password-protected PDF
- Runs on:
- Your device
- Size limit:
- None
- Account:
- Not needed
How to use Password Protect PDF
Add your PDF
Drop in the PDF you want to protect. It stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
Choose a password
Type it twice. Optionally block printing, copying or editing as well.
Download the protected copy
Press “Protect PDF” to save a copy encrypted with AES-256 that asks for the password when opened.
Why Password Protect PDF on Toolshed
No uploads
Everything runs in this browser tab. Your files never leave your device.
No limits
No file-size caps, no daily quotas. Process as much as your device can handle.
No signup
No account, no email, no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
What if I forget the password?
It can't be recovered. The password never leaves your device, so we never see it and have no copy, and AES-256 encryption can't be bypassed. Keep the original unprotected file or store the password in a password manager.
Do you see my password or my file?
No. The PDF is encrypted in your browser with qpdf running on your device. Neither the file nor the password is uploaded, logged or stored.
How strong is the protection?
The copy is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest standard PDF encryption, supported by Adobe Acrobat 9 and later and every modern reader. The weak point is the password itself: use a long one, ideally 12 characters or more with mixed letters, numbers and symbols.
What do the print, copy and edit restrictions do?
They tell PDF readers to disable printing, copying text or editing even for people who know the password. Most readers respect them, but they are a deterrent rather than hard protection: the open password is what actually keeps the content private.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. Password Protect PDF runs entirely in your browser. Your files are processed on your device and are never sent to a server.
Is there a file size limit?
No fixed limit. The only limit is your device's memory. Very large files work best in a desktop browser.