Why password-protect a PDF?
Not everything should be accessible to everyone. Password protection makes sense for:
- Confidential contracts shared with clients
- Financial documents sent by email
- HR files containing personal information
- Medical records or reports
Two types of PDF passwords
Open password (Document Open)
Requires a password to open the file at all. Anyone who doesn't have it sees a blank password dialog.
Permissions password (Permissions)
Allows opening the file, but restricts what the user can do: printing, copying text, editing, form filling. Used when you want to share content but control how it's used.
How to protect a PDF with PDFCraft
- Go to the Protect PDF tool.
- Upload your PDF (up to 200 MB).
- Enter a password (use a strong one — at least 8 characters, mix of letters and numbers).
- Click Protect PDF.
- Download your locked file.
Password tips
- Don't use the file name as the password — that's the first thing anyone tries.
- Share the password separately from the file — never in the same email.
- Keep a copy of the password somewhere safe. There is no "forgot password" for PDFs.
- Use AES-256 encryption — PDFCraft uses this standard by default, which is the same used by banks.
How to remove a password later
If you need to share an unlocked version, use PDFCraft's Unlock PDF tool. You'll need the current password to remove protection.