Free, no sign-up. Runs in your browser: nothing is uploaded.
How to use Protect PDF
- Open a PDF.
- Enter a password and choose permissions.
- Download the protected PDF.
Features
- AES-256 encryption
- Optional permissions: printing, copying, editing
- Works with every major PDF reader
Supported formats
You can open
You get
Private by design
Your files are opened and processed by your browser on this device. They are never uploaded to openWorkstand or anyone else, so the Protect PDF is safe for contracts, IDs, photos and work documents, and it keeps working offline once the page has loaded. How local processing works
Good to know
- A forgotten password cannot be recovered by anyone. Keep the original file or store the password in a password manager.
When to use the Protect PDF
- Password-protect payslips or medical records before emailing them.
- Secure a contract draft you send to a client.
- Share financial statements more safely.
Troubleshooting
The file does not open
Check that it is one of the supported formats above and opens in another app. Damaged files and password-protected PDFs cannot be read until they are repaired or unlocked.
It is slow or stops on a very large file
Everything runs on your device, so speed depends on its memory. Close other tabs, use a computer rather than a phone, or split the file into smaller parts first.
The download did not start
Look for your browser’s download bar or icon. Some browsers ask once before a site may download files; allow it and click the button again.
Frequently asked questions
What if I forget the password?
It cannot be recovered, by us or anyone else. Keep a copy of the original file or store the password in a password manager.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Your files are processed on your own device by your browser. They never leave your computer or phone, and there is no file size limit other than your device’s memory.
Step-by-step guides
- How to protect a PDFEncrypt a PDF with a password before sharing it, choose what others may print or copy, and remove a password you know when you no longer need it.
- How to redact a PDFBlack out names, account numbers and signatures in a PDF so they cannot be copied back out, and check the result before you share it.
- How to sign a PDFAdd your signature and the date to a PDF on a computer or phone, without printing and scanning, and without uploading the document.
Keep working with the result
After you download, choose “Save to Workstand” to keep the result in a folder on your computer, attach it to a project and create a follow-up task. It is saved by your browser, not uploaded.