Drag and drop a PDF, then add a password to protect your file.
Select a PDF file, then add a password to protect your file.
Select a PDF file to add a password.
How to password protect a PDF file
Follow these steps on how to password-protect your PDF files online for free:
- Click on the "Select a file" button above or drag and drop a PDF file into the drop zone.
- Enter a strong password and retype it to confirm.
- Click on "Set password".
- Once done, you can download the password-protected PDF document or sign in to share it with others.
Secure PDFs with our password protection tool
Add PDF password lock for free
Add PDF password protection with the Adobe Acrobat online tool for free. By adding a password to your PDF file, you can limit access and only allow people with the password to view the file content.
Maintain confidentiality of content
By password-protecting a document, you can make sure that sensitive data like birth dates or medical information is accessible only to approved people and remains unavailable to everyone else.
Restrict unauthorised access
When you password protect a PDF, you control file access. For someone to open the file, you'll need to give them the password, keeping your content private and safe.
Strengthen your password
At Adobe, we take security protocols very seriously. To ensure your file is well protected, we’ll let you know if your password is weak, medium or strong.
Eliminate the need to install software
Our compatible Acrobat online PDF tools work in any browser, including Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. Just drag and drop a file to get started — there’s no need to install any additional software.
Choose trusted PDF security with Adobe
As the inventor of the PDF file format, Adobe delivers document security you can rely on. Password-protect your PDFs with confidence and try our services today.
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When to use the password protection tool
Protecting confidential business reports and financial documents
Safeguard your private financial and business reports using Adobe Acrobat's password protection tool. You can prevent unwanted access and practice data privacy by creating a strong password of your PDF bank statements, invoices, and more.
Securing personal documents
You can protect your personal information, like tax forms, medical records, and Aadhaar cards, by utilising robust encryption features. The password protection feature offers a dependable method of safeguarding your most confidential documents.
Restrict access to sensitive legal agreements
Restrict access to legal documents. Make a file password protected by following the steps above.
Questions about password-protected PDFs? We have answers.
How do I choose a strong password?
Choosing a strong password keeps your content secure and prevents unauthorised access. To create a strong password, increase the length of the password and add a mix of letters (both upper and lower case) and numbers. The addition of symbols can also increase password strength. When you enter passwords, avoid using personal information or common words that can be guessed easily. It is best to use combination passwords (a mix of alphabets, numerals, and a special character) as they are difficult to crack.
How do I unlock a password-protected PDF?
When you open a PDF protected by a password, a dialogue box will appear that will prompt you to enter the password before you are able to see the file content. Type in the document open password and click OK to open the file. As a document owner, you can also remove the password with an Adobe Acrobat Pro trial or subscription.
What is the difference between password protection and encryption?
When you protect documents with a password, people who enter the correct password can access the file or folder. A stronger security method is encryption, with common types being 128-bit key or 256-bit AES encryption. Encryption turns document content into unreadable cipher text. To decrypt the document, authorised users need a key, which is typically a password or a digital certificate.
When you use the Acrobat online tool to add password protection to a PDF file, it encrypts the file for added security. If you need more advanced PDF security, you can try Adobe Acrobat Pro for free for seven days for Mac or Windows. The seven-day free trial lets you add encryption options, encrypt PDFs with certificates or manage security settings and permissions to restrict editing, printing or copying. Acrobat Pro also lets you edit PDFs, organise PDF pages and convert PDFs to and from Microsoft Office apps, including Microsoft Word documents, PowerPoint presentations and Excel spreadsheets.
Can I remove or change the password on a protected PDF?
Yes, you may remove or change the PDF password lock anytime you want as long as you own it.
What should I do if I forget the password for a protected PDF?
In case you forget the password, you can click on the forgot password section to recreate a password of your own. However, you must be the one to have your profile registered with your name, phone number, and other details.
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