How to Password Protect a PDF File: Complete Guide

Password-protecting a PDF ensures only authorized users can view its contents. This guide covers multiple methods, including using Adobe Acrobat, online tools, and built-in software features.

If you have Adobe Acrobat Pro, open the PDF, go to File > Properties > Security tab, select “Password Security,” and set a password for opening the document. You can also restrict printing or copying. For free options, use tools like Microsoft Word: save the document as PDF and then go to File > Info > Protect Document > Encrypt with Password. Online tools like Smallpdf and ILovePDF also allow adding passwords, but avoid uploading sensitive documents to third-party services. On macOS, use Preview: open the PDF, go to File > Export, check “Encrypt,” and set a password. Remember to store your passwords securely, preferably using a password manager. Avoid using easily guessable passwords like “123456” or “password.” Instead, use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. If you forget the password, recovering the PDF can be difficult or impossible, so keep backups of unprotected versions if necessary.