Password-protect a PDF
Lock a PDF with a password using strong AES-256 encryption. It opens in any PDF reader — Adobe Acrobat, Chrome, Edge, Apple Preview and phones.
- Files never uploaded
- Free, no sign-up
- Works on any device
- Works offline
Drop your file here
or drag and drop · One PDF file
Stays on your device — nothing is uploaded
How to protect PDF
Choose a PDF
Drop the PDF you want to lock.
Set a password
Type a strong password and confirm it. Optionally limit printing or copying.
Download
Save the protected PDF and share the password separately.
About Protect PDF
Sharing a protected PDF safely
Send the password through a different channel than the file — for example, email the PDF and text the password. Use at least 10 characters mixing words and numbers.
Don’t lose your password
We never see or store your password, so we can’t recover it. Keep the original unprotected file somewhere safe.
Your files never leave your device
Most online PDF sites upload your documents to their servers. DocuVault doesn’t. Everything happens inside your browser, so there is nothing for anyone to see, store or leak.
Check it yourself
Use a tool once, then turn off your Wi-Fi or switch to airplane mode and use it again — it still works. Developers can watch the Network tab: no file is ever sent.
Step 1
You choose a file
Your browser opens it directly from your device — like opening it in an app.
Step 2
Your device does the work
The processing code runs inside this browser tab. No server ever receives your file.
Step 3
You save the result
The new file goes straight to your downloads. Close the tab and everything is gone.
Frequently asked questions
Will the recipient be able to open it?
Yes. The file uses the standard PDF encryption that Adobe Acrobat/Reader, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Apple Preview and mobile PDF apps all support.
Is my password sent anywhere?
No. Encryption happens in your browser. Neither the file nor the password leaves your device.
Can you recover a forgotten password?
No. We never receive your password, so there is nothing to recover. Keep your original file.
What do the print and copy restrictions do?
They ask PDF readers to block printing or copying text. Most readers respect them, but they are not a guarantee — the password is what truly protects the file.