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Security & Privacy
Password Protect a PDF
Encrypt a PDF so only people with the password can open it. You can also set an owner password that restricts printing, copying text and editing.
- Runs in your browser — no upload
- Free — no sign-up
How to use Protect PDF
- 1Add the PDF you want to protect.
- 2Enter an open password and choose which permissions to allow.
- 3Download the encrypted PDF.
Why use Protect PDF on PDF NOVA
AES-256 encryption
Uses the strongest encryption defined by the PDF standard, supported by all modern PDF readers.
Granular permissions
Allow full printing, low-quality printing only, or none, and separately allow or block copying and editing.
Files stay on your device
Processing happens in your browser. Your document is never uploaded to a server, so there is nothing to delete afterwards.
Processing on your device
Protect PDF processes your file in your browser on your device. The file is not uploaded for processing. Download the result to keep a permanent copy. Your active PDF is saved locally in this browser for recovery across refreshes. Close Document removes it; recovery expires after 24 hours and is cleaned up when PDF NOVA next opens. Unsaved changes are not restored.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Protect PDF free?
Yes. Protect PDF is free to use without an account and does not add a watermark to your file.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. This tool runs entirely in your web browser using JavaScript and Web Workers. The file is read from your device, processed in memory and saved back to your device.
Do permission restrictions stop everyone?
Adobe Acrobat and most PDF apps honour them, but some software ignores them. The open password is what keeps a file private; restrictions are a courtesy layer on top.
Can you recover my password if I forget it?
No. The password is not stored anywhere. Keep it in a password manager — without it the file cannot be opened.