Protect PDF with a Password
Add a password required to open your PDF. Setpdf applies standard AES-256 PDF encryption and preserves the document's pages, order, dimensions and metadata.
Drop your PDF here
Select one valid, unencrypted PDF up to 50 MB.
Password strength
Not set
Advanced permission options
Optionally add an owner password and ask compatible PDF readers to restrict selected actions.
Required when any restriction is selected. It must differ from the opening password.
Ask PDF readers to disallow:
What PDF password protection can do
Use standard document encryption to control who can open a sensitive PDF.
Require a password to open
Recipients must enter the correct opening password before a compatible reader can decrypt and display the document.
Encrypt document objects
AES-256 encrypts PDF streams and strings, including document content and metadata, using the standard PDF security handler.
Request reader permissions
An optional owner password can request printing, copying, editing and annotation restrictions in compliant PDF readers.
What it cannot guarantee
• It cannot prevent screenshots, photographs or screen recording after an authorized user opens the file.
• It cannot prevent OCR or re-creation of content that a recipient can already view.
• Permission restrictions are not absolute and may be ignored or removed by some software.
• No encryption can compensate for a weak, reused, shared or exposed password.
Opening password vs. permissions password
The opening password encrypts access to the document. Without it, a compatible reader cannot decrypt the PDF content.
The permissions password, also called the owner password, controls security settings and requested usage restrictions. Readers enforce those restrictions, so they are less absolute than the opening password.
Common uses for protected PDFs
Contracts
Share draft agreements or signed copies through a separate password channel.
Invoices
Limit casual access to customer, billing and payment details.
Financial files
Protect statements, forecasts and internal financial reports in transit.
HR documents
Add access control to reviews, payroll records and employee documents.
Legal files
Protect privileged correspondence, evidence bundles and case documents.
Encryption and compatibility
Setpdf uses AES-256 with PDF security revision 6. It works with current Adobe Acrobat, major desktop PDF applications and modern browsers. Very old PDF readers may not support AES-256 files.
If you forget the password
Setpdf never retains a recoverable copy of your password. A strong forgotten password can make the PDF permanently inaccessible, so store it in a trusted password manager and share it separately from the file.
File handling and deletion
The PDF is sent over HTTPS to Setpdf for encryption. A private temporary task directory is created, the password is passed to the encryption process through standard input and is never written to a command line or log, and all input and output files are deleted immediately after the response finishes. Setpdf does not retain the file or password.
How to password-protect a PDF
STEP 1
Upload the PDF
Choose or drag in one valid PDF that is not already encrypted.
STEP 2
Set a strong password
Enter and confirm a password, or generate a strong one and save it safely.
STEP 3
Review optional permissions
If needed, add a different permissions password and select reader restrictions.
STEP 4
Protect and download
Apply AES-256 encryption and download the protected PDF.
Protect PDF questions
What encryption does Setpdf use for protected PDFs?
Setpdf uses standard AES-256 PDF encryption with security revision 6. The result is designed for current PDF readers.
Can Setpdf recover my PDF password?
No. Setpdf does not retain your password, so it cannot recover or reset it. Keep a secure copy before sharing or closing the page.
Will the protected PDF keep its pages and metadata?
Yes. The process preserves page content, order, dimensions and document metadata. The PDF is rewritten only as needed to apply encryption.
Do print and copy restrictions guarantee nobody can bypass them?
No. Those permissions are requests enforced by compatible PDF readers. Some tools can ignore or remove them, so use them as a deterrent rather than absolute access control.
Can password protection stop screenshots or OCR?
No. Anyone who can legitimately view the document may still capture the screen, photograph it or run OCR. PDF encryption controls opening, not what happens after authorized viewing.
Are my PDF and password stored by Setpdf?
No. The PDF exists only in a private temporary task directory during processing and is deleted with the encrypted output immediately after the response. The password is passed in memory to the encryption process and is not logged or retained.