iTrustPDF
PDF Password Protect
Add password security to your PDF files. Protect sensitive documents with strong encryption and set permissions to control access.
How to Password Protect PDF
- Upload PDF: Drag & drop your PDF or click to browse files
- Set Password: Create a strong password and confirm it
- Configure Permissions: Choose which actions users can perform
- Protect PDF: Click "Protect PDF" to encrypt your document
- Download: Save your password-protected PDF file
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the PDF Password Protect tool completely free?
A: Yes, our PDF Password Protect tool is 100% free with no hidden costs.
Q: How secure is my data when using the tool?
A: Your privacy is our top priority. All PDF encryption happens locally in your browser.
Q: What is the maximum file size?
A: You can protect PDF files up to 50MB in size.
Tips for protecting a PDF safely
- Use a strong password: 12 or more characters, mixing letters, numbers and symbols, and not reused elsewhere.
- Share the password separately: send it by another channel, not in the same email as the PDF.
- Keep the original: store an unprotected copy somewhere safe in case you forget the password.
- Combine with other tools: merge or split your pages and compress the file first, then protect the final version. To open a protected file you own, use Unlock PDF.
More questions about PDF passwords
Q: How strong is the encryption?
A: The tool uses AES-256, the strongest standard PDF encryption. The strength of the protection still depends on your password, so use a long, unique one.
Q: What happens if I forget the password?
A: It cannot be recovered. We never see your password, and AES-256 cannot be bypassed, so keep the password in a safe place and keep an unprotected copy of the original.
Q: What do the permission settings do?
A: You can allow or block printing, copying text and editing. These permissions are honoured by most PDF viewers, but only the password itself prevents opening the file, so always set a password too.
Q: Is my PDF uploaded?
A: No. The file is encrypted in your browser. The encryption engine is downloaded from a content delivery network the first time you protect a file, but your PDF is not sent anywhere.
Q: How do I remove the password later?
A: Use the Unlock PDF tool with the password you set. It decrypts the file in your browser and gives you an unprotected copy.