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Protect with a password

Adds a password to a PDF, so anyone opening it has to type it first.

To protect a PDF:

  1. Drop your PDF.
  2. Type a Password — "Anyone opening the PDF will need this password." As you type, a strength note appears: "Too short — at least 4 characters", "Short — easy to guess", "Fair — longer is safer", or "Long — hard to guess".
  3. Optionally, under "More options", set a Permissions password — "A second password for changing or removing the protection."
  4. Select Protect PDF (the button reads Protect 3 PDFs with several files).

The preview above the options always shows "Anyone opening this PDF will need the password"; if the file is already protected, it also shows "This PDF is already encrypted — the new password replaces its protection".

The Protect with a password page: the Password field and its plain-language strength note Figure: typing a password, with the strength note updating as you type.

What you'll see when it's done: a Done card with the protected file, ready to download, save to your library, open in the editor, or start over.

If something goes wrong

A failed file shows a plain reason with Try again beside it, and Details for the raw message underneath.