There are two kinds of PDF password
PDFs can have two kinds of password, for different purposes:
| Kind | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Open password | People without the password can’t open the PDF | Sending personal or confidential documents |
| Permissions (restrictions) password | The PDF opens, but printing, copying text or editing is restricted | Handouts you don’t want edited or reused |
How to add a password to a PDF
Our Password-Protect PDF tool adds a password in your browser. The PDF is encrypted with AES-256, a strong encryption method.
- Open Password-Protect PDF and select your PDF
- Enter the password twice (at least 4 characters using letters, numbers and symbols; 8 or more recommended)
- To also restrict printing or copying, turn on the restriction option and choose what to allow
- Apply the password, check the preview, then download
If you forget the password, even you won’t be able to open the PDF. Keep the original PDF separately, and make sure you note the password.
Choosing a strong password
- Use 8 or more characters, mixing upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols
- Avoid anything easy to guess, such as birthdays, phone numbers or company names
- Don’t reuse a password you use for other services
- Use a different password for each recipient and document
Sending a protected PDF by email
If you put the password in the same email as the attached PDF, it’s useless when the email goes to the wrong person. Share the password another way, such as by phone or chat.
Packing the PDF into a password-protected ZIP can get the attachment blocked, for example because the recipient’s system can’t scan it for viruses. Unless the recipient asks for it, attach the protected PDF as it is.
Password-protected PDFs can’t be compressed, so if you need a smaller file, compress it first and then add the password.
How to remove a password from a PDF
If typing the password every time is tedious, or you want to edit the PDF in other tools, you can make a copy without the password. Our Unlock PDF tool works with both open passwords and permissions passwords.
- Open Unlock PDF and select your PDF
- Enter the PDF’s password
- Remove the password, check the preview, then download
You can only remove a password you know
Removing a password requires the correct password. A PDF whose password you don’t know can’t be unlocked.
Only unlock PDFs you created yourself, or PDFs you received the password for and are allowed to use. Don’t try to remove passwords from other people’s PDFs without permission.
Your PDF is never uploaded
With our tools, neither your PDF nor your password is sent to a server; everything is processed on your device. Confidential documents and personal information are safe to work with.