PageYak

Protect a PDF with a password

Add a password so only people who know it can open your PDF. Strong 256-bit AES encryption. Free, and the file and password never leave this device.

One PDF file.

Processed on this device. Nothing is uploaded. How it works

Very large files depend on your device's memory.

How to password protect a PDF

  1. 1

    Choose your PDF

    Tap Choose PDF file, or drop it onto the box.

  2. 2

    Set a password

    Type it twice so a typing mistake can't lock you out.

  3. 3

    Protect and download

    Tap Protect PDF, then Download PDF.

How the protection works

Encryption256-bit AES, the strongest method in the PDF standard. It works in Adobe Acrobat and Reader, browsers, and phone and computer PDF apps from recent years.
What it stopsOpening the file without the password.
Accepted filesOne PDF (.pdf) at a time. A file that already needs a password must be unlocked first.
Where your file and password goNowhere. Both stay in this browser tab while the file is encrypted.

Privacy: how this tool handles your file

When you use Protect PDF, your browser reads your file on your device and the tool's code does the work in this tab. PageYak's server only sends the page and its code. It never receives your file, so there is nothing to delete afterwards.

How PageYak works explains this in more detail.

When to password protect a PDF

The password is added with strong AES encryption in your browser, so neither the file nor the password is sent to PageYak.

  • Emailing payslips, bank statements, tax documents or medical reports.
  • Sharing contracts or HR files that only one person should open.
  • Keeping scans of passports and citizenship cards safe on shared computers or cloud drives.

Questions

What makes a good PDF password?

Use at least 12 characters. A few unrelated words with a number, such as Mango7Kettle-River, is strong and easy to remember. Avoid names and dates of birth.

I forgot the password. Can you recover it?

No. The password never leaves your device, so PageYak never knows it. Keep a copy of the original file until you are sure the password is saved.

How do I send the password?

Send it a different way from the file. For example, email the PDF and send the password by text message or phone call.

How do I remove the password later?

Use Unlock PDF and type the password once. You get a copy that opens without one.

Which apps can open the protected PDF?

Any standard PDF reader, including Adobe Acrobat, Chrome, Edge, Safari, and the PDF viewers on Android and iPhone. They ask for the password first.

Can I stop people printing or copying?

The main protection is the password to open the file. Print and copy limits depend on the reader respecting them, so do not rely on them for secrets.

Last updated 12 November 2026.