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Free · No sign-up · Works on any device
Upload the PDF you want to password-protect to EditDocs AI.
Enter a user password (required to open), optionally an owner password (for permissions). Restrict printing, copying, or editing.
Your AES-256 encrypted PDF is ready. Anyone who tries to open it must enter the password.
More features than any basic PDF tool — and always free
Common real-world scenarios
Free forever · No account · No watermark · Files deleted in 60 minutes
Start Free →Everything you need to know about protect pdf
AES-256 — the same standard used by banks and government agencies.
Yes. You can independently control print, copy, edit, and annotation permissions.
Passwords cannot be recovered. Use the Unlock PDF tool only with a known password.
Yes. The output PDF is standard-compliant and works with all PDF viewers.
Go to editdocsai.com/tools/protect-pdf, upload your PDF, enter a password, and download the encrypted file. Free, no account needed.
AES-256 is the strongest available PDF encryption standard — the same used by banks and governments. It is computationally infeasible to break without the correct password.
Yes. Set a user (open) password and a separate owner password, then uncheck printing in the permissions section.
Passwords cannot be recovered. Store your password securely. If you forget it, use our Unlock PDF tool only if you can recall the original password.
| EditDocs AI | Basic PDF Tools | Premium Software | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protect PDF | Free | Free* | Paid only |
| Files deleted after | 60 minutes | 24+ hours | Stored indefinitely |
| AI natural language | |||
| Batch processing | Unlimited | Paid | Paid |
| Account required | No | No | Always |
| API access | Free tier | Paid | Enterprise |
| Workflow automation |
* Basic tools have limits on free usage. EditDocs AI core features are always free.
Upload your PDF at editdocsai.com/tools/protect-pdf, enter a password, and download the encrypted file. We use AES-256 encryption — the same standard used by banks and government agencies. The password is required to open the document. No account, no subscription — completely free. Files are auto-deleted from our servers after 60 minutes.
Open editdocsai.com/tools/protect-pdf in Safari or Chrome on any mobile device. Upload the PDF from Files app (iPhone) or your downloads folder (Android), enter your password, and download the protected PDF directly to your device. No app installation required. The protected PDF can be sent by email or WhatsApp and requires the password to open on any device.
A user password (also called open password) is required to open and view the PDF. Anyone who tries to open the file must enter this password. An owner password (permissions password) controls what the reader can do with an open document — it can restrict printing, copying text, or editing. You can set both: the user password to control who can open the file, and the owner password to control what they can do with it. For most use cases (protecting a confidential document before emailing), only a user password is needed.