Protect PDF
Two tabs: lock a document before you send it, or take the password off one you already have the key to.
Encryption happens on your device.
Choose a PDFEncryption happens on your device.
Password
There is no recovery. Store this password somewhere safe before you download.
Your file never leaves this device. Processing happens in your browser, so nothing is uploaded and nothing is stored.
How to protect pdf
- Choose Lock or Unlock. Lock adds a password; Unlock removes one you already know.
- Add your PDF and the password. For locking, type it twice. For unlocking, type the existing password.
- Download. The protected or unprotected copy saves straight to your device.
Encrypt a PDF with a password, or remove the password from a file you own. Both directions run on your device, so the password never travels.
Frequently asked questions
Can you open a PDF without the password?
No, and we would not want to. Unlocking requires you to type the correct password — the tool simply removes the protection afterwards. There is no cracking, guessing or bypass here.
What encryption does Lock use?
The PDF standard security handler with a 128-bit RC4 key, revision 3 — the format every PDF reader opens without extra software.
Why does the unlocked file lose selectable text?
Removing encryption means rewriting the whole document. The tool decrypts and rebuilds each page as a high-resolution image, which works on every kind of protected PDF, but the text becomes part of the picture. A plain-text copy is offered alongside it so nothing is lost.
Can you recover a password I have forgotten?
No. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere, and there is no recovery path. A password-protected PDF without its password stays closed.