How to use Protect PDF
Choose or drop one unencrypted PDF. Type a password and confirm it. Then Protect PDF to download protected.pdf. The password is used only in your browser and is never uploaded. This sets a PDF open password; it is not a substitute for strong file encryption everywhere. If you forget the password, the file cannot be opened here. Already password-protected files fail with an error. Nothing is sent to a server.
Frequently asked questions
Is the password uploaded to a server?
No. The password is used only in your browser to encrypt the PDF. Deskutil never receives the file or the password.
What kind of protection is this?
This sets a PDF open password with pdf-lib encrypt({ userPassword }). It is not a substitute for strong file encryption everywhere. Readers that support PDF passwords will prompt before opening the file.
What if I forget the password?
If you forget the password, the file cannot be opened here. This tool does not unlock, crack, or recover passwords. Keep a copy of an unprotected original if you may need it later.
What happens if the PDF is already password-protected?
Protect stops with a clear error. Already encrypted files are not decrypted or re-encrypted here. Use an unencrypted PDF instead. Nothing is uploaded.
What file do I download?
A single PDF named protected.pdf. Opening it typically requires the open password you typed. The original file on your device is unchanged.