How to Password-Protect and Unlock a PDF

By JzeeTools Team · Published October 1, 2026 · 2 min read

Add a password to a private PDF, or remove the password from a file you own, directly in your browser.

Contracts, bank statements and ID copies are often shared by email. A password makes sure that only the person who knows it can open the file.

Protecting a PDF

1. Open the Protect PDF tool and select your file.
2. Type a password twice. Use at least four characters, and preferably a long phrase.
3. Click Protect PDF. The encrypted file downloads as protected.pdf.
4. Send the password through a different channel than the file, for example by phone or a messaging app.

The pages are rebuilt as images inside the encrypted PDF, so text in the new file cannot be selected. The password cannot be recovered if you lose it, so store it somewhere safe.

Unlocking a PDF

If you have a PDF that asks for a password every time, and you know the password, you can save an unlocked copy.

1. Open the Unlock PDF tool and select the file.
2. Enter the password and click Unlock PDF.
3. Save the new file. It opens without a password.

This tool does not guess or crack passwords. It works only when you supply the correct one, and you should only unlock files that belong to you or that you have permission to use.

Choosing a strong password

• Use a phrase of several unrelated words rather than one word.
• Do not reuse the password of your email or bank.
• Never write the password in the same email as the file.