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PaperPDF

Protect a PDF with a password

Lock a PDF so that only people with the password can open it. The locking happens on your device.

Files never leave your device

How to use it

  1. Step 1: Tap the box and choose the PDF you want to protect.
  2. Step 2: Type a password twice. The strength hint helps you choose a good one.
  3. Step 3: Tap Protect with password and download the locked PDF.

Your files never leave your device

This tool runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to a server, so your documents and photos stay private. It is free, has no watermark and needs no sign-up.

Frequently asked questions

How strong is the protection?

The file is locked with AES-256 encryption, the same strength that banks and governments rely on, using the standard PDF method (revision 6). A long password that is not easy to guess matters as much as the encryption itself.

What if I forget the password?

Then the file cannot be opened, and we cannot recover it. We never see your password, and there is no reset. Keep the password somewhere safe, and keep an unprotected copy of the original.

Does everyone need special software to open it?

No. Phones, browsers and normal PDF readers ask for the password and then open the file. Very old readers may not support AES-256, so tell the receiver if they have trouble.

Is my file or my password uploaded?

No. Both stay on your device. The encryption runs inside your browser, the password field is cleared when the job is done, and nothing is stored or logged.

Can I send the password in the same message?

It is safer not to. Send the file in one message and the password in another, ideally in a different app, such as a phone call or a text message.

Read the guide: How to Password-Protect a PDF Before Sending It →

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