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Add a password to any PDF using AES-256 encryption — the strongest standard PDF encryption supports. Free PDF protect tool — no signup required. Your file is processed in server memory only and never written to disk or stored after the response is returned.
Add a password to any PDF using AES-256 encryption — the strongest standard PDF encryption supports. Free PDF protect tool — no signup required. Your file is processed in server memory only and never written to disk or stored after the response is returned.
An unprotected PDF sent by email or shared via a link can be opened by anyone who receives it — intentionally or by mistake. Password protection ensures only recipients who know the password can access the content. Confidential documents — contracts, NDAs, financial statements, salary information, and legal filings contain information that should only reach its intended recipient. Adding a password prevents accidental access if the file is forwarded or intercepted. Medical and personal records — patient data, insurance documents, and identity documents require protection under privacy regulations including GDPR and HIPAA. Password protecting PDFs containing personal data before sharing them is a basic security step. Intellectual property — creative work, proprietary research, unpublished…
PDFWix protects PDFs using AES-256 — the strongest encryption standard that the PDF file format supports, and the same standard required by US FIPS 140-2 and most enterprise security policies. AES-256 uses a 256-bit encryption key. A brute-force attack on AES-256 would require more computing power than currently exists on Earth — it is computationally infeasible to crack with today's technology when a strong password is used. The password you choose is the only key. PDFWix does not store your password or have any way to recover it. If you lose the password, the file cannot be opened — by anyone. Store passwords securely in a password manager before sharing protected PDFs. AES-256 PDF encryption is supported by all major PDF readers including Adobe Acrobat, Chrome, Preview on Mac, and…
Yes. PDFWix's protect PDF tool is completely free with no daily task limits and no watermarks added to output. No account or signup required.
Your PDF is sent over HTTPS and processed in server memory only — it is never written to disk and never stored after your download is returned. PDFWix cannot access your file contents or your password.
AES-256 — the strongest standard PDF encryption supports and the same used by US government agencies and enterprise security policies.
There is no recovery option. AES-256 encryption means the password is the only key. Store your password in a password manager before sharing the protected PDF. If you have the original unprotected file, you can re-protect it with a new password.
Yes. In addition to an open password that prevents viewing, you can set permission restrictions that allow recipients to open the file but prevent them from editing, copying text, or printing it.
Yes. AES-256 encrypted PDFs open in any standard PDF reader including Adobe Acrobat, Chrome, Preview on Mac, and all mobile PDF apps. The recipient simply enters the password when opening the file.
Yes. PDFWix processes Protect PDF on its servers but entirely in memory — your file is never written to disk and is freed from memory immediately after the encrypted PDF is returned to you. The password you enter is never logged or stored. Transit uses TLS 1.3.
Yes. Open pdfwix.com/protect-pdf in Safari on iPhone or Chrome on Android. The tool works identically on mobile — no app install needed.
Open PDFWix Protect PDF, upload your PDF, enter a password, and enable the 'Restrict copying' permission option before clicking Protect PDF. This sets an owner restriction that prevents text selection and copying in standard PDF readers. Note: this restriction uses the owner password mechanism — a determined user with professional PDF tools and the owner password could remove it. For documents where copy prevention is critical, consider converting sensitive pages to images…
Open PDFWix Protect PDF, upload your PDF, set a password, and enable the 'Restrict editing' permission. This prevents the PDF from being edited, annotated, or filled in standard PDF readers. AES-256 encryption ensures the restriction cannot be bypassed without the owner password. Free, no signup, in-memory processing — your PDF is never stored.
To remove a password from a PDF you own, use unlock PDF. To permanently remove sensitive content rather than restricting access, use redact PDF. To add a visible CONFIDENTIAL stamp across pages instead of a password, use watermark PDF.