Sending a salary slip, bank statement, or contract? Add a password so only the right person can open it. Here is how to encrypt a PDF for free.

Password-protect your PDF

1. Open the Encrypt PDF tool and upload your file.
2. Choose a strong, unique password.
3. Download the encrypted PDF — it now needs the password to open.

How strong is it?

The file is protected with AES-256 — the same encryption standard trusted for sensitive documents. But a PDF is only as safe as the password you choose, so avoid names and dates, and store it in a password manager.

Share the password through a different channel than the file itself (e.g. file by email, password by message).

Need to remove a password later?

If you already know the password and want an unlocked copy for your own records, use the Unlock PDF tool.