Protect PDF

Password-protect your PDF documents

Protect PDF is available on the Pro plan and above.

View pricing →

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How to password-protect a PDF online

Adding a password to a PDF ensures that only authorised recipients can open it. PDFRift encrypts your document using 128-bit RC4 encryption directly in your browser — no file upload, no cloud processing. Once protected, the PDF can only be viewed by someone who knows the password.

Step-by-step

  1. Upload the PDF you want to protect.
  2. Enter a password and confirm it.
  3. Click "Protect" and download the encrypted PDF.

Why encrypt PDFs locally?

The whole point of password-protecting a document is to keep its contents confidential. Uploading it to a remote server to apply encryption defeats the purpose — the unencrypted file exists on a third-party server during processing. PDFRift avoids this contradiction by running the encryption entirely in your browser using pdf-lib. The unprotected version of your file is never exposed to any network.

Common use cases

Sharing confidential reports

Protect quarterly financials, strategy documents, or HR files before emailing them. Share the password separately via a different channel.

Securing personal documents

Add a password to tax returns, medical records, or identity documents before storing them in cloud storage.

Client deliverables

Freelancers and agencies can password-protect proposals and contracts to ensure only the intended client can access them.

Tips for PDF protection

  • Use a strong password — at least 12 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • Store the password in a password manager. If you lose it, the PDF cannot be unlocked.
  • Share the password through a different channel than the PDF itself (e.g., send the PDF by email and the password by text message).

Frequently asked questions

What encryption standard is used?

PDFRift uses 128-bit RC4 encryption, which is supported by all major PDF readers including Adobe Acrobat, Preview, and Chrome.

Can I remove the password later?

Yes — open the protected PDF, enter the password, and use this same tool to save an unprotected copy.

Why is this a Pro feature?

PDF encryption involves additional processing complexity. The Pro tier ensures reliable performance for these more intensive operations.