Protect PDF

Add a password to a PDF with AES-256 encryption, and optionally limit printing and copying.

Your files are processed in your browser and never uploaded.

Protect PDF Up to 200 MB · nothing is uploaded

Password to open the PDF

Type it again

Show passwords

Restrict printing, copying and editing (optional)

Limit what people can do after opening the PDF

Allow printing Allow copying text and images Allow editing

Permissions password (optional; needed to lift the limits later)

PDF apps are asked to respect these limits. Most do, but some tools ignore them, so they deter casual copying rather than stop it. The open password itself is real encryption.

The PDF is encrypted with AES-256 (qpdf, running in your browser). If you forget the password, nobody, including SEOpeck, can open the file.

This PDF is already protected. Use Unlock PDF to remove the old protection first, then protect it with a new password.

Protect PDF

Protect PDF locks a document with a password, so only people who know it can open it. The file is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest encryption the PDF format supports, using qpdf, a widely used open-source PDF tool, running inside your browser. Because nothing is uploaded, your document and your password never reach our server. You can also limit printing, copying and editing for people who open the file.

How to use Protect PDF

Choose the PDF you want to protect.
Type a password and type it again. A long password of several words is both strong and easy to remember.
Optionally open Restrict printing, copying and editing to limit what readers can do.
Click Protect PDF and share the password with the recipient by a different channel (for example, a phone call instead of the same email).

When it comes in handy

Emailing payslips, bank statements, medical records or contracts.
Sending ID documents to an agent or employer.
Keeping personal documents safe in cloud storage.

Frequently asked questions

What if I forget the password?: The file cannot be opened. AES-256 has no back door, and SEOpeck never sees your password. Keep a copy of the unprotected file or store the password in a password manager.
Will the recipient need special software?: No. Adobe Acrobat Reader, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, macOS Preview and phone apps all open password-protected PDFs and ask for the password.
How secure are the printing and copying limits?: They are respected by most PDF apps but not all, so treat them as a deterrent. The open password is real encryption.
Are my files uploaded?: No. The encryption runs in your browser; the file and password never leave your device.