Protect PDF
Free. Runs in your browser; files are not uploaded.
Drop a PDF here
One PDF up to 100 MB.
The protected copy is a new file. Your original PDF is not changed.
Runs locally in your browser. Files are processed on this device and are not uploaded.
How to password protect a PDF
Choose a PDF
Drop one PDF up to 100 MB or choose it with the button.
Type a password
Enter the password and type it again to confirm. Show reveals what you typed.
Enter the existing password if asked
A PDF that already has a password shows an extra field. The old password is needed to re-encrypt it.
Protect and download
Select Protect PDF, then download the copy named <name>-protected.pdf.
What the password protects
The password is an open password. Without it, a PDF viewer cannot show any page of the file.
The file is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest method in the PDF standard. Once the PDF is open, printing, copying and editing stay allowed.
Encryption runs in your browser. Temposhot does not receive the file or the password, so a forgotten password cannot be recovered. Keep it in a password manager.
Frequently asked questions
How long can the password be?
Up to 127 bytes in UTF-8. That is 127 characters for letters, digits, spaces and common symbols; characters from other scripts use more bytes each.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The file is encrypted in your browser and stays on your device. The original file is not changed.
Which PDF readers open the protected file?
Current versions of Preview, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari open AES-256 PDFs after the password is entered.
Can I change the password of a protected PDF?
Yes. Add the PDF, enter its existing password in the extra field, and set the new password.
Does the password stop copying or printing?
No. It controls opening the file. Anyone with the password can print, copy and edit.
Related free tools
- Compress PDFRe-render pages at a lower resolution and image quality to shrink the file.
- Merge PDFJoin several PDF files into one, in the order you set.
- PDF Page OrganizerMove, rotate, delete or insert pages, then download the new PDF.
- Image to PDFPut JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC images in order and save them as one PDF.
- PDF to JPGSave each PDF page as a JPG or PNG at 72, 150 or 300 DPI.
- Image Redaction ToolBlur, pixelate or cover names, emails and other private details.
Sharing screenshots as a PDF?
Temposhot captures screens on your Mac and exports them as a PDF, ready to protect and share.
Free download. Apple Silicon, macOS 14 or later.