PixoatePDF Password - Lock or Unlock PDFs (AES-128) Free
Add an AES-128 user password to a PDF, or remove an existing password (you must know it). Server-side processing, files deleted after download.
Drop a PDF to lock or unlock
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Combine two or more PDF files into one, drag to reorder. Free with no daily task limit, no signup and no watermark — files never upload, everything runs in your browser.
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Add text notes and color highlights to any PDF — click to place, choose color and size, export as PDF. Free, no signup, no watermark, no upload.
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Try it nowFrequently Asked Questions
Switch to the Lock tab, drop a PDF, enter a password (and confirm it), and click Lock PDF. The output is an AES-128 encrypted PDF that requires the password to open in any PDF viewer. Distribute the locked file freely and share the password through a separate channel.
usageAES-128 is the same encryption strength banks use for online banking. With a strong password (12+ characters mixing letters, numbers and symbols) the file is mathematically unbreakable in any reasonable timeframe. Weak passwords can be brute-forced — use a passphrase or a password manager-generated string.
technicalYes — switch to the Unlock tab, drop the locked PDF, enter the password you already know, and click Unlock PDF. The output is the same PDF without encryption. This tool does NOT crack unknown passwords; it requires the correct password to decrypt.
featuresThe tool reports "Wrong password" and refuses to produce output. There is no brute-force, no retry penalty, no logging of attempts. If you don't know the password, contact the document originator — there is no legitimate way to bypass strong PDF encryption.
technicalYes — the password is sent over HTTPS to perform the encryption/decryption server-side, then immediately discarded. We never log passwords or retain encrypted output. For ultra-sensitive workflows where even transient transit is unacceptable, use a desktop tool like qpdf or pikepdf locally.
privacyYes — AES-128 PDF encryption is supported by every major PDF viewer: Adobe Acrobat, Apple Preview, Chrome's built-in viewer, Foxit, Edge's PDF viewer, and mobile readers on iOS and Android.
featuresCurrently the tool uses a single user password (open-the-file password). Advanced PDF security separates the user password (open) from the owner password (allow/restrict printing, copying, editing) — that workflow needs a desktop tool. For most use cases, the user password is what people mean by "password-protect this PDF".
featuresFree, no signup. Files up to 50MB. No watermark added during lock/unlock. Use it commercially for contracts, NDAs, tax returns and any other document that needs to be sent over email without snoopers reading it.
pricingHow PDF Password helps you get it done
Real problems it solves every day — for businesses, creators, and everyday tasks. Find the use case that fits you and start in seconds.
Send Tax Returns Securely
Email your tax return as a password-protected PDF and share the password through a separate channel (SMS, call). Even if the email is intercepted, the file stays unreadable.
Confidential Contracts & NDAs
Lock contracts and NDAs before email distribution. Recipients need the password to open — preventing unauthorised forwarding from accidentally exposing terms.
Salary & Payroll Documents
HR teams sending salary letters, performance review documents and payroll summaries should always password-protect. Personal identifiable financial information should never travel in clear PDF.
Patient Health Records
Sharing medical records between providers, with insurance, or with patients themselves should be encrypted. AES-128 PDF protection is widely accepted as adequate for HIPAA-compliant email.
Premium Content Distribution
E-book authors, course creators and paid newsletter writers protect their content with a download password. Combined with our PDF Watermark tool, it provides reasonable anti-piracy.
Unlock Inherited or Forgotten-Owner PDFs
You're organising old family or business documents and someone has the password. Use Unlock mode to remove the password so future access doesn't depend on remembering it.