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PDFVelora

Protect PDF

Encrypt a PDF with a password.

Drop your file here

or

PDF · up to 100 MB

How to use Protect PDF

Choose a password and PDFVelora encrypts your PDF with AES-256: anyone who opens the file has to enter it first. You can also stop the file from being printed, or its text and images from being copied, in PDF readers that respect these permissions. You type the password twice to rule out typos. It is used only to encrypt the file and is never stored, so keep it somewhere safe.

  1. Upload your PDF

    Drop the PDF on the page or choose it from your device.

  2. Set a password

    Type the password needed to open the file, then type it again to confirm.

  3. Add restrictions if you want

    Optionally prevent printing and prevent copying of text and images.

  4. Download the protected PDF

    Start processing and download the encrypted file.

Questions about Protect PDF

Which encryption is used?

AES-256, the strongest encryption the PDF standard defines (security handler revision 6). Current PDF readers ask for the password before showing the file.

What if I forget the password?

We can't recover it: the password isn't kept anywhere, so a file whose password is lost can't be opened. Keep the unprotected original or store the password safely.

How do the printing and copying restrictions work?

They're optional. PDF readers that respect permissions won't print the file or let anyone select and copy its text and images, while screen readers can still read it aloud. The restrictions can only be lifted with Unlock PDF and the open password.

Can I protect a PDF that already has a password?

Not directly. Remove the existing protection with Unlock PDF first, then protect the file with your new password.

Which characters can a password contain?

Letters, digits, symbols and spaces, up to 127 bytes: 127 plain Latin characters, or fewer with accented or Arabic characters, which take more space.

What happens to my file after protecting it?

Files are encrypted in transit and deleted automatically: after 2 hours for visitors and after 24 hours for account holders, unless you save them to My documents.

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