Password Protect PDF Files Before Sending

Add a Password Before You Send the File

To password protect a PDF, choose the file, enter a strong open password and download the encrypted copy. This free tool processes the file in your browser without uploading it.

1. Choose one unencrypted PDF up to 20 MB and 60 pages. Keep the original file.
2. Enter the open password twice. Use 12 to 127 letters, numbers, spaces or keyboard symbols. Spaces count as part of the password.
3. For optional printing and copying restrictions, enable permissions and choose what the recipient can do. Set a separate permissions password if you need to change those restrictions later.
4. Choose Protect PDF. The tool checks that the exact output requires a password, then opens it with your password for inspection.
5. Visit every page in the preview. Confirm the inspection and download the protected PDF.

Reopen the downloaded file in the recipient's PDF viewer. Confirm that a wrong password fails and the right password opens every page. Check any printing or copying restriction there too.

The tool keeps text and page graphics rather than converting pages to images. Signed or certified PDFs are refused because rewriting them invalidates their signatures. Forms, attachments, layers and document actions are also unsupported.

Clear documents releases the active preview and download link and clears the password fields. Close the page when finished. Store the original and downloaded client documents under your brokerage's document policy.

How Strong is PDF Encryption?

This tool uses AES-256 encryption with PDF security revision 6. AES scrambles the document's strings and content streams so a reader needs the open password or permissions password to decrypt them.

A weak password is still guessable even when the PDF uses AES-256. Choose a unique, randomly generated password or a long random passphrase. Avoid client names, birth dates and loan numbers.

The open password protects access to the document. Printing and copying restrictions depend on the PDF viewer honouring them. Someone who can open the file can still capture its contents.

Editing is restricted when permissions are enabled. Screen-reader access remains allowed. Keep the permissions password private because it can open the file with owner access. If you leave that field blank, the tool creates a random owner credential.

Encryption does not hide the downloaded filename or give an emailed attachment an expiry date. Use a neutral filename that reveals no client details.

Send the Password Separately

Send the protected PDF by email and give the recipient its password through a different channel, such as a text message or phone call.

Putting both in one email gives anyone who obtains that message what they need to open the document. A separate email to the same inbox leaves the same problem.

Confirm the recipient's identity and phone number before sharing the password. Use your brokerage's approved secure portal when access must expire or be withdrawn after sending.

Encrypt a PDF in Acrobat or Word

In Acrobat, open All tools > Protect a PDF, then choose Encrypt with Password under Advanced options. Enable Require a password to open the document, enter it and confirm it. Save the PDF to apply the protection.

Acrobat also has separate permissions for printing, editing and copying. Follow Adobe's PDF password instructions for those settings.

In Word for Windows, choose File > Save As or Save a Copy and select PDF. Open More Options > Options and select Encrypt the document with a password. Enter and confirm the password, then save.

Microsoft's PDF export instructions describe that Windows setting. On a Mac, you can first export the Word document as a PDF and then add an open password with this tool.

After either method, reopen the saved PDF and test its password before sending client documents.