How to password-protect or unlock a PDF
Add open-document password protection or remove a password you are authorized to use with Protect PDF and Unlock PDF.
Protect a PDF
Open Protect PDF, set a strong password, and choose whether printing or copying should stay allowed. Download the encrypted file and store the password somewhere safe—IzPDF cannot recover it later.
Unlock when you know the password
Unlock PDF removes open-document encryption after you enter the correct password. Only unlock files you are allowed to access.
Combine with signing
Sign first when you need a visible mark, then protect the finished file before you email it. Unlock first when a source file will not open in Merge or Edit.
Questions
- I forgot the password — can IzPDF crack it?
- No. We only unlock files when you supply the correct password. There is no brute-force or bypass tool.
- Is password protection the same as a certificate signature?
- No. Protect PDF uses open-document encryption. Certificate-based digital signatures are a different legal and technical mechanism.