Password Protect PDF

Add AES-256 password protection to your PDF files. Set user and owner passwords. Free, private, all in your browser.

About Password Protect PDF

Add AES-256 encryption to your PDF files. Set a user password to control who can open the document, and an owner password to restrict printing, copying, and editing. All encryption happens in your browser.

AES-256 Encryption

Industry-standard encryption keeps your sensitive documents secure from unauthorized access.

Permission Control

Restrict printing, modification, copying, and annotation with granular permission settings.

PDF 2.0 Compatible

Protected PDFs work with all modern PDF readers including Adobe Acrobat, Preview, and browsers.

Browser-based Security

Your PDF and password never leave your device. Encryption runs entirely in your browser using pdf-lib.

📋 Common Use Cases

Secure Confidential Reports

Password-protect sensitive business reports, financial statements, and HR documents shared via email.

Restrict Editing Rights

Prevent unauthorized modification of legal contracts and agreements by disabling editing and copying permissions.

Protect Client Documents

Send tax documents, medical records, and legal filings with password protection for secure client delivery.

Control Printing Access

Allow viewing but restrict printing of proprietary content, training materials, and internal documentation.

🪜 How to Use This Tool

  1. Upload your PDF
    Drag and drop your PDF file onto the page or click to select the document you want to protect.
  2. Set passwords
    Create a user password to open the file and an optional owner password to restrict printing and editing.
  3. Configure permissions
    Choose which actions to allow — printing, copying text, editing, and adding annotations to the document.
  4. Download encrypted PDF
    Save your password-protected PDF with AES-256 encryption applied and permissions locked.

📚 Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this PDF tool really free?▼
Yes. Every PDF tool on iluv.tools is completely free. No signup, no account, no payment. Everything runs in your browser.
Are my PDF files uploaded to a server?▼
No. All PDF processing happens locally in your browser using the pdf-lib and PDF.js libraries. Your files never leave your device.
Do these PDF tools work offline?▼
Basic PDF tools (merge, split, compress, rotate, sign, watermark, protect, unlock, add page numbers, edit metadata, flatten, grayscale, crop, delete pages) work completely offline after the page loads. AI-powered tools like smart compression and PDF to Word require an internet connection.
Is there a file size limit?▼
Browser-based tools handle files up to ~100MB smoothly. Larger files may be slower depending on your device. For very large PDFs, try splitting them first, processing the parts, then merging.
Can I use these on mobile?▼
Yes. All PDF tools work on mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Android Chrome). Desktop is recommended for large files, but everything is functional on mobile.