Drag and drop a PDF file, then add a password.
Select a PDF file, then add a password to protect your file.
Select a PDF file to add a password.
How to password protect your PDF for free
Create a PDF password in four simple steps. All you need to do is:
- Click the Select a file button above or drag and drop a PDF into the drop zone.
- Enter a password, then retype to confirm it.
- Click Set password.
- Download the password-protected PDF document or sign into your free Adobe Acrobat account to share it with others.
Try our free PDF password protection tool
Password protect PDF files in just a few clicks
Use the online PDF password protection tool from Adobe Acrobat to keep your files secure. Simply add a password to your PDF to restrict access.
Protect sensitive content in your PDF
Handling personally identifiable information like dates of birth or addresses? Password protect your PDF using our online tools to ensure only those you authorise can access the document.
Restrict unauthorised people from accessing your PDF file
Want to make sure your files are locked down to unauthorised viewers? Use Adobe Acrobat online tools for password protection to keep prying eyes locked out. Only those you have provided with the password can access your PDF file.
Create a strong password for your PDF
Passwords should be strong and secure – otherwise what's the point? Create a password using Adobe Acrobat online tools and we'll use established password standards to tell you whether it's up to standard.
No need to install any software
Need to get to work fast? With Adobe Acrobat, all you need to access our online PDF tools is the internet. Launch Google Chrome or Safari and get to work. Drag, drop and away you go. Forget about downloading additional software.
PDF password security you can trust
Adobe created the PDF. As the inventor and pioneer of this file format, we know best how to keep it safe and secure. Password-protect your documents for free using Adobe Acrobat online tools for added peace of mind.
Questions? We have answers.
How do I choose a strong password?
If you want to create a strong password, follow best-practice advice. For starters, each password should be unique. Then, try to make the password longer. Don't use any personal information or the type of everyday words someone may be able to guess.
Assembling seemingly random words with zero connection can be one idea. And try to increase its complexity with the addition of numbers and special characters.
How do I unlock a password-protect PDF?
If someone sends you a password-protected file, you'll be prompted to enter the password when you try to open it. Enter the password and hit OK and you'll be able to access the file. If the document owner has Adobe Acrobat Pro, they can also remove the password in three easy steps using the Unlock Tool.
What's the difference between password protection and encryption?
Password protection prevents anyone who doesn't have the password from accessing the document. If you want them to open the PDF, you must provide them with the password.
Encryption works in a similar way but is more complex. Once you encrypt a document, it 'scrambles' the page content, rendering it as cipher text, which you cannot read. For a user to be able to access this, you need to give them a digital encryption key. Once the user enters the key – which often takes the form of a password or digital certificate – the text will return to normal so they can read it.
When you password-protect a PDF using Acrobat online tools, it encrypts the file for added security. For those with Adobe Acrobat Pro, you have stronger security at your disposal. Encrypt PDFs with certificates and adjust permissions so users can access but not edit the PDF. Ready to get started? Get a 7-day free trial of Adobe Acrobat Pro for Mac or Windows.
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