Protect PDF Files Online
Protect PDF files with a password. Free, secure, and works on any device — no signup required.
Email a contract to the wrong person and a password is the only thing standing between them and your data. PDFWix's Protect PDF adds AES-256 encryption — the same standard banks and government agencies use — directly in your browser. Your file and password never reach our servers. You can set a user password (required to open the document) and an owner password (required to print, copy text, or modify it). Once protected, the PDF works in every major reader: Adobe, Apple Preview, Chrome, Firefox, Foxit, mobile apps. Lose the password and even we can't recover the file — that's the point.
or drop PDFs here
Encryption is applied securely on our servers. Your file is processed in memory and never stored.
Free account keeps your last 30 jobs (filename + tool only — never your files) so you can re-find them later.
🔒 HTTPS · Browser-side processing · 100% free
How to Protect PDF
- 1
Upload your file
Click "Select PDF files" or drag and drop the document into the upload box. Multiple files are supported where it makes sense.
- 2
Configure options
Pick the settings on the right — the defaults work for 90% of jobs, so most users can skip straight to the next step.
- 3
Click "Protect PDF"
PDFWix processes the file instantly in your browser. No upload progress bar, no waiting.
- 4
Download the result
Save the new file to your device. The original file is never modified.
Tips for protecting PDFs
Use a password manager
If you forget the password, the file is gone. Save it to 1Password, Bitwarden, or your OS keychain before you send the PDF anywhere.
Send the password separately
Don't email password and PDF in the same thread. Send the password by SMS, Signal, or in person.
User vs. owner password
User password = needed to open. Owner password = needed to change permissions (print/copy/edit). Set both for tightest control.
Long passphrases beat complex passwords
'correct-horse-battery-staple' is exponentially harder to crack than 'P@ss1!'. Aim for 4+ random words.
Need to redistribute? Compress first
Encryption slightly bloats the file. Run Compress PDF before protecting if size matters.
Why use PDFWix to protect PDFs?
- Completely free. protect as many PDFs as you need without paying a cent or hitting a paywall.
- No signup required. Skip account creation. Just upload, protect, and download.
- Works on any device. Whether you're on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, or Android — PDFWix runs entirely in your browser.
- Privacy first. Your files are encrypted in transit and automatically deleted from our servers within an hour.
- Lightning fast. Most protect jobs finish in under 10 seconds, even for large files.
- Preserves quality. Text, images, and formatting stay exactly as they were in the original PDF.
Common uses for protecting PDFs
- Protect PDF for monthly reports and expense filings
- Protect PDF for academic papers and references
- Protect PDF for contracts and signature workflows
- Protect PDF for ebooks and training manuals
- Protect PDF for tax documents and accountant submissions
Frequently asked questions
What encryption strength is used?
AES-256, the same standard recommended by NIST and used by major banks. It's the strongest encryption supported by the PDF specification.
Can I set different permissions?
Yes. You can independently restrict printing, copying text, modifying the document, and adding annotations.
What if I forget the password?
We can't help — that's the point of encryption. Always store passwords in a manager like 1Password or Bitwarden.
Will the password work in Adobe Reader?
Yes. Standard PDF password encryption is supported by every major reader: Adobe, Preview, Foxit, browsers, mobile apps.