How do I add a password to a PDF?

Upload your PDF and enter the password you want to set. Our tool encrypts the PDF and your password-protected file is ready to download in seconds. Anyone opening the PDF will need to enter the password.

What type of encryption is used?

We use AES 128-bit encryption, which is the standard for PDF password protection and is recognised by all major PDF readers including Adobe Acrobat, Preview and browser-based PDF viewers.

Can I remove the password later?

Yes. Use our Unlock PDF tool to remove the password from a protected PDF. You will need to know the current password to unlock it.

What happens if I forget the password?

If you forget the password, you will not be able to open the protected PDF — and neither will we. Store your password securely. There is no recovery option for a forgotten PDF password.

Is my file secure when uploading?

Yes. All uploads are SSL encrypted. Your PDF and the converted file are permanently deleted from our servers within 24 hours.

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Protect PDF with a Password

Add password protection to your PDF in seconds. Only people with the password will be able to open the file.

SSL Secure

Instant Download

Deleted After 24 Hours

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Trusted by 2.8M+ Users

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Simple Process

How to Password Protect a PDF

Upload Your PDF

Drag and drop your PDF into the box above or click to browse. Any PDF up to 100MB is accepted.

Set a Password

Enter the password you want to use. Anyone who wants to open the PDF will need to enter this password. Choose something strong and store it safely.

Download Protected PDF

Your password-protected PDF is ready to download. The file is encrypted and cannot be opened without the correct password.

Add Password Protection to Your PDF Online

PDFMadeSimple's protect tool lets you encrypt any PDF with a password in seconds. No software to install, no account needed. Upload your PDF, set a password, and download your protected file immediately.

Password-protecting a PDF prevents unauthorised access. The file can only be opened by people who know the password. This is ideal for sensitive documents you need to share over email or cloud storage where the file might be accessed by others.

When to Password Protect a PDF

Sending financial documents, payslips or bank statements by email
Sharing legal contracts or agreements with specific parties
Protecting HR documents such as performance reviews or offer letters
Sending medical records or personal health information
Distributing confidential business reports or proposals
Protecting personal documents stored in shared cloud folders

What Encryption is Used?

We use AES 128-bit encryption, which is the PDF industry standard. This level of encryption is supported by all major PDF readers including Adobe Acrobat, Apple Preview, and modern browser-based PDF viewers. The protected PDF will behave normally — it just requires the password to open.

Is It Safe to Upload My PDF?

All files uploaded to PDFMadeSimple are transferred over SSL encrypted connections. Your PDF and the protected output file are permanently deleted from our servers within 24 hours. We never see or store your chosen password — it is processed and discarded immediately.

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Help

Protect PDF — Common Questions

Upload your PDF, enter your chosen password in the field above, then click Protect PDF. Your encrypted file is ready to download in seconds.

We use AES 128-bit encryption, the PDF industry standard. This is supported by all major PDF readers including Adobe Acrobat, Apple Preview and modern browser viewers.

Yes. Use our Unlock PDF tool to remove the password. You will need to know the current password to unlock it.

If you forget the password, you will not be able to open the protected PDF. We do not store your password and cannot recover it. Store your password somewhere safe before protecting the file.

Yes. All uploads are SSL encrypted. Your PDF and the protected file are permanently deleted within 24 hours. We never store your password.

Just enter the email address you used when you paid. No password or account needed — we recognise your active subscription automatically by your email address.