Protect PDF
Encrypt your PDF with a password to prevent unauthorized access.
How do I protect pdf?
Quick Answer: Upload the PDF you want to secure. Type in a strong password and confirm it. Download your new encrypted PDF file.
How to use Protect PDF
- Upload the PDF you want to secure.
- Type in a strong password and confirm it.
- Download your new encrypted PDF file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of encryption is used?
We use robust AES 256-bit encryption, which is the industry standard for securing highly sensitive and confidential documents.
Can TheyLovePDF recover my password if I forget it?
No. Your password is never saved on our servers. If you lose it, the document cannot be decrypted. Please keep it safe!
Does protecting a PDF prevent printing?
Yes, encryption locks the document from being opened, printed, or edited without the correct password.
Protect PDF — Specifications
- Free file size limit
- 10 MB per request, no account required
- Pro file size limit
- 2 GB per request
- Price
- Free — Pro from $4.99/month
- Watermark
- None, on any plan
- Account required
- No
- Transfer security
- 256-bit SSL
- File retention
- Deleted automatically within 2 hours
- Installation
- None — runs in the browser
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS
- Input formats
- Output format
- Encrypted PDF
- Encryption
- AES-256, AES-128 or RC4
- Permissions
- Print, copy, modify and annotate can each be restricted
- Passwords
- Separate open password and permissions password
When to use Protect PDF
- Sending payroll or medical records where only the recipient should be able to open the file.
- Sharing a proposal that may be read but not copied or edited.
- Locking a finalised document so printing is blocked.
Troubleshooting Protect PDF
Which password should I set?
The open password is required to view the file at all. The permissions password only restricts actions like printing and copying for someone who can already open it. Setting both to the same value defeats the restrictions.
Which encryption level should I choose?
AES-256 unless you must support a very old PDF reader. RC4 exists for legacy compatibility and is not considered strong.
I forgot the password.
It cannot be recovered. The key is derived from the password and exists only in the file — there is no copy on our servers.
Related tools
Is TheyLovePDF a free alternative to iLovePDF for Protect PDF?
Yes. TheyLovePDF runs Protect PDF free in the browser with no watermark, no account, and no daily operation cap. Files travel over 256-bit SSL and are deleted automatically within 2 hours.
Free iLovePDF Alternative — Protect PDF
iLovePDF limits free accounts to a set number of tasks per day and asks you to sign in for larger files. TheyLovePDF applies no daily task limit, adds no watermark, and requires no account for files up to 10MB — Pro raises that to 2GB. Both run entirely in the browser; neither needs an install.