Protect PDF in your browser
About to email a contract, tax return, medical record, or bank statement? Lock it with a password first. The encryption happens right in your browser, so the unprotected file never touches a server.
- Strong AES-256 encryption, done on your device.
- Nobody can open the file without the password (8–64 characters).
- Your file and your password both stay on your device.
- Test the locked copy in your PDF reader straight away.
How to use Protect PDF
- Choose the PDF you want to lock.
- Enter and confirm a strong password (8 to 64 printable ASCII characters).
- Click Process PDF, download the locked copy, and try opening it.
Technical notes & limits
- Sets an open password (8–64 ASCII characters). It doesn’t add separate print or copy restrictions.
- Forgotten passwords can’t be recovered. Keep your original file or save the password in a password manager.
Encrypt it before it leaves your hands
Uploading a sensitive PDF to a website just to add a password rather defeats the point. InBrowserPDF encrypts the file with AES-256 inside your browser, using an engine written in Rust and compiled to WebAssembly. Without the password, the contents can’t be read.
Keep your password safe
This sets a password needed to open the file. Once someone opens it, they can view, print, and copy as normal. We never see your password, so we can’t recover it if you forget. Store it in a password manager and send it separately from the file.
Frequently asked questions
What encryption standard does Protect PDF use?
AES-256. The PDF can’t be opened without the password.
Can you recover my password if I forget it?
No. Your file and password never leave your browser, so there’s nothing on our side to recover. Keep the password somewhere safe.
Does this restrict printing after the user enters the password?
No. The password controls who can open the file. Once it’s open, printing and copying work as normal.