Password protect a PDF
Lock your PDF with a password in seconds, right on your device.
Report a problem with this tool
How to use Protect PDF
Add your PDFs
Drop one or more PDFs onto the page, or click to choose them. They all get the same password.
Set a password
Type the password needed to open the file, then choose whether people can print, copy text or edit it.
Download the locked files
Click Protect and save your encrypted PDFs. Keep the password safe; it can’t be recovered.
Why use Utils365
Strong AES-256 encryption
The same 256-bit encryption Adobe Acrobat uses, supported by every modern PDF reader.
Private by design
Everything happens in your browser. Your PDFs and passwords are never uploaded to a server or stored anywhere.
Control printing and copying
Allow or block printing, copying text and editing, with an optional separate permissions password.
Several files at once
Protect a whole batch of PDFs with one password in a single click.
Frequently asked questions
How secure is the password protection?
Files are encrypted with AES-256, the strongest standard PDF encryption. Without the password the content can’t be read, so choose a long password that’s hard to guess.
Is my password sent anywhere?
No. The PDF is encrypted in your browser, so neither the file nor the password ever reaches our servers.
What if I forget the password?
We can’t recover it, and nor can anyone else. Keep a copy of the password, or of the original unprotected PDF, somewhere safe.
What do the print and copy settings do?
They tell PDF apps what people may do after opening the file. Most apps respect them, but they’re a polite lock rather than a hard one: the open password is what really protects the content.
What is the permissions password?
A second password that lets its holder change or lift the restrictions. If you don’t set one, we use a long random password so the restrictions stay in place.
Will the PDF open on phones and in other apps?
Yes. Adobe Reader, Preview, Chrome, Edge and phone PDF viewers all open AES-256 protected PDFs and ask for the password.