Encrypt PDF
Password-protect a PDF and set print/copy permissions.
- 1Upload
- 2Configure
- 3Process
- 4Download
Legal notice
Only encrypt or unlock PDFs you own or have explicit rights to modify. This site does not crack unknown passwords. Unauthorized circumvention of access controls may be illegal.
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Related workflows
How to Password-Protect a PDF in Your Browser
Encrypt a PDF with a password and optional print/copy restrictions, privately.
Why In-Browser PDF Tools Are More Private Than Upload Sites
When you upload a PDF to a remote converter, you trust that server with whatever is inside. Local processing changes the risk model.
What this tool does
Encrypt PDF adds password protection to a PDF you own or are authorized to protect. Set a user password so a recipient needs it to open the file, optionally set an owner password, choose AES-128 or AES-256 encryption, and control permissions for printing, copying, or modification. Encryption is a useful extra layer when a document must travel by email or file share, but it is not a substitute for access controls, careful recipient checks, or a secure sharing process. Always keep an unprotected original in a safe place and send the password separately from the encrypted file. This tool performs encryption locally in your browser with @cantoo/pdf-lib, so the PDF and passwords are not sent to an All PDF Needs processing server.
How to use it
- Confirm that you own the PDF or have permission to protect and distribute it, then upload the document.
- Set a strong user password. This is the password a recipient will need to open the encrypted file.
- Set an owner password when you need separate control over permissions, then choose AES-128 for broad compatibility or AES-256 for stronger protection.
- Choose the print, copy, and modification permissions that suit your workflow. Permissions communicate intended restrictions but should not be treated as a complete security program.
- Click Protect and download the encrypted PDF after the browser finishes processing it locally.
- Open the downloaded file in a PDF reader to confirm the user password works, then share the password through a separate channel.
Common use cases
- Protect tax PDFs, identity scans, or other sensitive attachments before email
- Share a sensitive deck or client packet with a password
- Add a basic opening barrier before wider distribution of a document
- Password-protect a signed PDF before returning it to a recipient
- Create a protected copy while retaining an unencrypted archive source
FAQs
- What encryption is used?
- AES-128 by default for wide compatibility, or AES-256 for stronger protection. You can also set an optional owner password and printing/copying/modifying permissions. Everything runs in your browser via @cantoo/pdf-lib—passwords never leave your device.
- Can I recover a lost password?
- No. Keep a safe copy of the unprotected original.
- What is the difference between a user and owner password?
- The user password opens the file. The optional owner password is used for the PDF’s permission settings, such as printing, copying, and modification.
- Should I choose AES-128 or AES-256?
- AES-128 provides broad compatibility. AES-256 provides stronger encryption when the recipient’s PDF reader supports it. Choose the option your recipient can open reliably.
- How should I send the password?
- Send the encrypted PDF and its password through different channels, such as email for the file and a phone call or message for the password. Do not put both in the same message.
- Legal notice
- Only encrypt or unlock PDFs you own or have explicit rights to modify. This site does not crack unknown passwords. Unauthorized circumvention of access controls may be illegal.