Why this protect & unlock tool

🔐 Real encryption

Genuine AES-256 (or AES-128) encryption applied with qpdf — the same engine trusted by professionals — not a fake “password” that any reader can ignore.

🎛️ Fine-grained control

Decide exactly what's allowed: printing (full, low-res or none), copying, editing, form filling, commenting and page assembly — each toggled independently.

🗑️ Deleted right after

Your file and password are used once on our server and deleted immediately — nothing is stored or logged. Text, images and pages are preserved exactly.

How to protect or unlock a PDF

  1. Pick a mode. Protect adds a password and permissions; Unlock removes them from a PDF whose password you know.
  2. Protect: set an owner password (and optionally an open password), choose what to allow, pick AES-256 or AES-128, and click Protect.
  3. Unlock: upload the protected PDF, enter its password if needed, and remove all restrictions.
  4. Download. You get a new PDF; the original is never changed.

Frequently asked questions

How do I password-protect a PDF?
Open the Protect tab, upload your PDF, set an owner password (and optionally an open password required to view the file), choose which actions to allow, pick AES-256 or AES-128, and click Protect. You get a new encrypted PDF; the original is unchanged.
What's the difference between the open and owner passwords?
The open (user) password is required just to view the document. The owner password controls permissions — printing, copying, editing and so on. You can set either or both; the owner password is required so the permissions can be enforced.
Can you remove a password I've forgotten?
No. This tool never guesses or cracks passwords. Unlocking only works when you already know the password (or when the PDF only has owner restrictions that don't require a password to open). It's for your own documents, not bypassing someone else's.
Which encryption does it use?
AES-256 by default — the strongest option supported by modern readers — with AES-128 available for wider compatibility. Encryption is applied by qpdf on the server.
Is my file safe?
Your PDF and password are sent over HTTPS to our own server, used once, and deleted immediately after — leftovers are removed automatically within 30 minutes. Nothing is stored or logged, and content is preserved exactly.
Does it change the document?
No. Only encryption and permissions change. Text, images, fonts, page order and content stay the same. Protecting or unlocking a digitally signed PDF invalidates its signature, so the tool warns you first.