Some documents should only be opened by the person they are meant for. A password does that. The catch is that most websites that add one want your file first. Here is how to protect a PDF without handing it over.
What a PDF password does
An open password encrypts the content of the file. Without it, a PDF viewer cannot show the pages at all, and the text inside is scrambled. PataPage uses AES-256, a strong standard that is widely used.
How to add a password
- 1
Finish editing first
Sign, number, watermark and compress the document before protecting it. A protected file cannot be changed by other tools until it is unlocked.
- 2
Open Protect PDF
Drop your PDF. Both the file and your password stay on your device.
- 3
Choose a password
Type it twice. The strength meter shows how well it will hold up.
- 4
Protect and download
Press Protect PDF and save the locked copy.
- 5
Test it
Open the new file in another tab. It should ask for the password.
Choosing a good password
- Longer beats clever. A phrase of four or five random words is strong and easy to remember.
- Do not reuse a password from your email or bank.
- Avoid names, birthdays and anything people could guess.
Share the password separately
Send the PDF by email and the password by text message or in a call. If both travel in the same message, the lock does nothing.
Before you rely on it
Nothing is stored, so a forgotten password cannot be recovered. Keep your original unlocked file in a safe place. If a file already has a password, remove it in your PDF viewer first, then add a new one.