Password Protect PDF
Add a password to your PDF with AES-256 encryption. Free, instant, nothing leaves your device.
Drop the PDF you want to protect
or click to browse — PDF files only
Everything you need to password protect a PDF
AES-256 encryption
A real open password, applied with the strongest encryption the PDF format supports.
100% private — nothing uploaded
Encryption runs locally in your browser. Neither your file nor your password is sent anywhere.
Your pages stay untouched
Text stays selectable and images keep their quality. Only the lock is added.
Password confirmation
You type the password twice, so a typo doesn't lock you out of your own file.
Fast, even for big files
No upload or download round trip. The work happens on your device, off the main page thread.
Three steps to a protected PDF
- 1
Upload your PDF
Drag and drop the PDF you want to protect onto the page, or click to browse.
- 2
Choose a password
Type a password and confirm it. Anyone opening the file will need it.
- 3
Encrypt and download
Click Protect PDF. Your browser encrypts the file with AES-256 and you download the locked copy. Nothing is uploaded.
Built for documents that shouldn't be public
Whether you're emailing a contract, sharing client files or storing personal records, PixelTools locks your PDF in seconds, free, with no upload.
Emailing a sensitive file
Lock a contract, payslip or ID scan before it goes into an inbox, then share the password another way.
Client documents
Send invoices, proposals or reports that only the intended client can open.
Personal records
Protect tax returns, medical papers or bank statements stored in cloud folders.
Frequently asked questions
Is this tool free?
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Yes, completely free with no limits. No account required.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
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No. The encryption runs in your browser. Your file and your password never leave your device.
How strong is the encryption?
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The password is applied with AES-256, the strongest encryption the PDF format supports. A PDF locked this way cannot be opened without the password. How hard it is to guess depends on the password you choose, so pick a long one.
Can I recover the password if I forget it?
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No. We never see or store your password, and there is no back door in AES-256. Keep the password somewhere safe, and keep an unprotected copy of the original file.
Will every PDF viewer open the protected file?
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AES-256 is the standard PDF encryption, so current PDF viewers should ask for the password and open the file. We have checked the output with the pdf.js viewer used by Firefox and with qpdf. Very old viewers that predate AES-256 may not open it.
Can I stop people from printing or copying the PDF?
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This tool sets an open password only. Print and copy restrictions are not real protection: many viewers ignore them, so we don't offer them as a security feature. If the content is sensitive, rely on the password.
Does protecting the PDF change how it looks?
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No. Pages, text, images and fonts are kept exactly as they were. Only the encryption is added, so text stays selectable and searchable once the file is opened with the password.
Protect your PDF now
Free, instant, no account needed.