Protect a PDF with a password

Lock a PDF so it only opens with a password, using strong AES-256 encryption. It all happens on your device, so the file and the password never leave it.

How to password-protect a PDF

1. Choose your PDF. It opens in the editor with the protection options ready.
2. Type the password to open it, twice.
3. Choose what people who open it can do: print, copy, change pages, comment, fill in forms.
4. Select Save protected copy.

How strong is it?

The password to open uses AES-256, the strongest encryption PDFs support: with a good password, the file can't be read without it. The permissions (no printing, no copying) are honoured by PDF apps, but aren't real protection on their own, so don't rely on them to keep content secret.

Private by design

Uploading a document to protect it rather defeats the point. StaplePDF encrypts the file inside your browser; neither the file nor the password is sent anywhere.

Questions