Protect PDF: Add Password Online

Secure Your PDF with Advanced AES Encryption

Protect your sensitive documents from unauthorized access. ClonyPDF provides bank-grade AES PDF encryption to secure legal contracts, client deliverables, and official records instantly.

⚡ Smart Mode

The fastest way to lock down a document. Perfect for quick, secure sharing with view-only protection.

Instant AES encryption application
Enforces view-only protection
Printing disabled automatically
Quick secure sharing optimized

🎯 Purpose Mode

Apply specialized, pre-configured security policies based on exactly who will be receiving the file.

Presets for Gov / Official documents
Strict Confidential mode for legal use
Client Deliverable mode (viewing only)
Tailored, instant permission control

⚙️ Advanced Mode

Total administrative control. Dictate exactly what users can and cannot do with your document.

Custom user password & owner password
Granular printing control restrictions
Complete copy and extraction restriction
Strict editing and form-filling restriction

How to Add a Password to PDF in 5 Simple Steps

Encrypt your files safely directly from your browser. No desktop software required.

Upload PDF File

Drag and drop your confidential document into our secure, SSL-encrypted upload zone.

Choose Mode

Select Smart Mode for a quick lock, Purpose Mode for presets, or Advanced Mode for total control.

Set Password

Type a strong document password. Only users with this password will be able to open the file.

Select Permissions

If using Advanced Mode, toggle exactly whether recipients can print, copy, or edit the text.

Download Securely

Click encrypt. Your fully protected PDF is ready instantly. Original files are auto-deleted.

Enterprise-Grade Document Security

Basic password tools leave your files vulnerable to brute-force attacks. ClonyPDF encrypts your data at the structural level.

Standard PDF Lockers

✗ Uses weak, outdated RC4 encryption
✗ No ability to stop users from copying text
✗ Stores your unencrypted files on their servers
✗ Adds software watermarks to your locked files
✗ Crashes when attempting to encrypt large PDFs

The ClonyPDF Standard

✓ AES-grade encryption (unbreakable standard)
✓ Custom permission control (block printing/copying)
✓ Secure processing with strict auto file deletion
✓ 100% Watermark-free on all processed files
✓ Fast encryption engine that handles massive PDFs

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers regarding PDF encryption, permissions, and document safety.

How to protect PDF with password online?

Upload your document to ClonyPDF, select Smart Mode, type your desired password, and click "Protect." Our engine instantly encrypts the file so it cannot be opened without the correct password.

How to encrypt PDF using AES?

By default, ClonyPDF utilizes standard AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption on all protected files. You simply need to set a password using any of our protection modes, and AES encryption is applied automatically.

Can I restrict printing in PDF?

Yes. Select Advanced Mode or the Client Deliverable preset. You can toggle off the printing permission, which greys out the print option in all standard PDF viewers for anyone who opens the file.

How to disable copying in PDF?

To prevent text extraction, upload your file and select Advanced Mode. Deselect the "Enable Copying" permission. Users will be able to read your document but won't be able to highlight, copy, or paste the text.

Is online PDF encryption safe?

Absolutely. ClonyPDF processes your files over a secure 256-bit SSL connection. We operate on a zero-knowledge framework: your passwords are never saved, and your files are permanently deleted from our servers within 1 hour.

What is an owner password in a PDF?

A PDF has two passwords. The "User Password" is required to open the document. The "Owner Password" acts as a master key, allowing you to bypass restrictions like printing or editing blocks that were placed on normal users.

Can I protect large PDF files?

Yes. Our fast encryption engine is designed to handle large, multi-page documents like legal briefs or corporate reports seamlessly without crashing your browser.

How to secure a PDF before sending to a client?

Use the Purpose Mode > Client Deliverable setting. It applies a strong open password while simultaneously restricting editing and structural changes, ensuring your final work cannot be tampered with.

Does encryption change PDF quality?

No. Encryption only scrambles the binary data of the file to prevent unauthorized access. It does not compress, alter, or degrade the resolution of your text, images, or formatting.

How to remove editing rights in PDF?

Upload the file to ClonyPDF, switch to Advanced Mode, and disable "Editing Permissions." When you encrypt and download the file, recipients will only be able to view the document, not modify it.