How to Password Protect a PDF Online Free

Need to secure a sensitive document before sharing? Papr lets you add password protection to any PDF — and because all processing happens in your browser, your confidential files never leave your device.

Why Password Protect PDFs with Papr?

When you need to share sensitive documents — financial records, contracts, personal information — password protection adds an essential layer of security. Most online tools require uploading your files, which defeats the purpose of securing them. Papr encrypts everything locally on your device.

Maximum Privacy: Files are encrypted locally, never uploaded
Strong Encryption: Industry-standard PDF encryption
Completely Free: No subscriptions or per-document fees

Step-by-Step: Password Protecting a PDF

Step 1: Open Your PDF

Launch the Papr editor and load the PDF you want to protect. Click the "Open file" button in the top toolbar or drag your file onto the page.

Papr editor toolbar with the Open file button highlighted

Step 2: Open the Password Protect Tool

In the top toolbar, open the Tools dropdown and select Password Protect. This opens the export dialog with password settings.

Tools dropdown menu with Password Protect option highlighted

Step 3: Enable Password Protection

In the export dialog, make sure Password protect is enabled to reveal the password fields.

Export dialog with Password protect toggle enabled

Step 4: Set Your Password

Enter a strong password. Anyone opening this PDF will need it to view the document.

Password fields visible and filled in the export dialog

Step 5: Export Your Protected PDF

Click Export in the dialog to generate the password-protected file. The encrypted PDF will download to your device.

Export button highlighted in the password protection dialog

Example of password prompt when opening the protected PDF

Tips for Strong Passwords

Length matters: Use at least 12 characters for strong security
Mix character types: Combine letters, numbers, and symbols
Avoid common words: Don't use dictionary words or personal info
Remember it: There's no way to recover a forgotten PDF password — store it safely
Share securely: Send the password separately from the document (e.g., via text if emailing the PDF)

Understanding PDF Security

PDF password protection uses encryption to scramble the document contents. Without the correct password, the file cannot be opened or read.

Common Use Cases

Securing financial documents before emailing
Protecting contracts and legal agreements
Sharing personal information securely
Distributing confidential business reports
Protecting intellectual property and proprietary information
Securing medical records and health information

Ready to Protect Your PDF?

Try adding password protection now with Papr. It's free and your files stay private.

Open Papr Editor