PDF Editor, Signer, Converter — free.
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Protect PDF

Put a password on it. Only the right people open it.

Drop the PDF. Set a password you'll actually remember. Download the locked version. Takes ten seconds. Works on anything — tax returns, contracts, that weird scan from HR.

Start here

Upload your file to start

Supported formats: PDF input with password-protected PDF export.

PDFSingle file

Upload a PDF to protect

Drag and drop or click to browse. The editor opens with password-protect export ready.

Drop files anywhere inside this panel.Processed locally — we never keep it.
Processed locallyFiles stay on this deviceNo account wallTrust details

What happens next

Your file opens in the matching tool so you can edit, convert, or export it without uploading it a second time.

  • No signup
  • No watermarks
  • Files deleted after 1 hour

Encrypted upload. Deleted in an hour. Never shared. Never trained on. Ever.

ISO/IEC 27001 (in progress)
GDPR compliant
TLS 1.3
Files deleted after 1 hour
No signup required

How to password-protect a PDF, end to end.

Four clicks from a dropzone on this page to a locked PDF in your Downloads folder. You never leave the tab.

  1. Drop your PDF on this page.

    Drag it from your desktop or click to browse. It uploads encrypted. We can't see it.

  2. Type the password.

    Make it something you'll actually remember — we don't store it. Optional: block printing, copying, or editing on the locked copy.

  3. Click Lock.

    We encrypt the PDF with AES-256 and hand back a locked copy. Takes a second.

  4. Download. We forget.

    Your locked PDF lands in Downloads. Our copy — and your password — is deleted within the hour. Send it to whoever needs it.

What you can actually do on this page.

Five honest moves you can finish in the browser you're already in. No Adobe, no signup, no half-features held behind a paywall.

  • Set a password in ten seconds.

    Type the password you want readers to enter. We lock the PDF with it and never save your string — it lives only in your memory.

  • Lock printing, copying, or editing.

    Block any combination of permissions so your reader can view but not repurpose what you sent. You pick which ones stay off.

  • AES-256 encryption.

    Same standard banks use. Strong enough for contracts, medical records, tax returns, and the HR scan you'd rather keep private.

  • Never a watermark.

    Free means free. No stamp on your locked file, no diagonal "sample," no gotcha at download.

  • Keep going without re-uploading.

    Need to compress or sign the locked copy next? Your file is still loaded. Move straight to the next tool.

Why people choose Pdf Clarity

  • Private by default

    Your PDFs are transferred over TLS and deleted within one hour. We don't look at them, and you don't need an account.

  • Fast and free

    Editing, annotating, signing, merging and splitting are free with no signup. Your first upload opens the editor in seconds.

  • Works in any browser

    Open the editor in Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge on Mac, Windows, Linux or Chromebook. You never install anything.

More ways to protect a PDF

Add PDF password

Type the password you want readers to enter before they can open your PDF. You keep the password private — we never see it or store it after the download completes.

Restrict printing and editing

Block print, copy, or edit permissions on the protected copy so your reader can view but not repurpose your content. You pick exactly which rights stay off.

Password-protect a PDF on Mac

Open Pdf Clarity in your browser on macOS and drop the file in — no installs, no Adobe needed. Your protected PDF downloads straight to your Downloads folder.

Remove PDF permissions

If you want to loosen permissions on a file you own, unlock it first with Unlock PDF, then re-protect with the exact permissions you want. You stay in control of the lock state.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people ask us most about editing a PDF online for free. Tap any question and the answer expands inline.

What encryption does the lock use?
AES-256 — the same standard banks, hospitals, and law firms use. Strong enough for anything you'd normally password-protect.
What if I forget the password?
We can't recover it. We never saw it in the first place. Keep the password in your password manager before you send the locked PDF to anyone.
Can I also block printing or copying?
Yes. Tick the boxes for printing, copying, or editing and we'll turn them off on the locked copy. Your reader can still view the file.
Will the locked PDF have a watermark?
Never. Not on free, not on Pro, not ever.
Is it really free? What's the catch?
There isn't one. Password-protecting, editing, merging, signing — all free, for as long as you need them. No signup, no watermark, no trial timer.
How big a PDF can I lock?
Up to 100 MB on the free plan. If you need bigger — a long scan, a deck — the Pro tier handles up to 500 MB.
What happens to my file after I'm done?
Deleted within one hour of upload. Encrypted in transit and at rest. Never read by a human, never shared, never used to train anything. Your password is never stored.
Does it work on an iPad, Chromebook, or phone?
Yes. Any browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge. Upload, type a password, download. Same flow on every device.
Can I remove a password from a PDF I own?
Yes — use our Unlock PDF tool. Type the password you already have and download an unlocked copy.

Related PDF tools

Learn more

Ready to keep reading? You can go deeper on common tasks in the help center articles below.

You can also browse all PDF tools from the tools hub.