How to Password Protect a PDF Without Adobe Acrobat (Free)
Add AES encryption to a PDF without Adobe Acrobat — free, browser-based, no subscription. Works on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android.
Adobe Acrobat Pro adds 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption to PDFs. So does FixMyPDF — for free, in your browser, on any device, with no account. The encryption standard is identical; the price is not.
Same Encryption Standard as Acrobat
Acrobat Pro uses AES-128 or AES-256 encryption for PDF password protection. Our tool uses the same AES-256 standard (PDF encryption specification RC4 and AES as defined in ISO 32000). A PDF encrypted with our tool opens in Acrobat Reader and vice versa — they use the same standard.
How to Protect Without Acrobat
Go to fixmypdf.in/tools/protect. Upload your PDF. Enter a password (and confirm). Optionally set permission restrictions (prevent printing, copying, editing). Click "Protect PDF". Download the encrypted file.
Free Built-In Options
Mac Preview: File → Export as PDF → check Encrypt. This adds AES-128 encryption — simpler than our tool but works well for basic open-password protection. Windows: no built-in PDF encryption. Microsoft Office can password-protect .docx files but not existing PDFs.
Owner Restrictions Without Open Password
Acrobat lets you set restrictions (no print, no copy) without requiring an open password — so the PDF opens freely but recipients can't do certain things. Our tool supports this too: set a permissions password without an open password. Recipients can read but not copy or print.
Privacy During Encryption
Your PDF and the password you choose are processed in your browser — neither ever reaches our servers. For sensitive documents where the content demands protection, this browser-based processing provides an additional layer of privacy during the encryption step itself.
No Acrobat Reader Required to Open Encrypted PDFs
Recipients need only enter the password in any PDF reader — Edge, Chrome, Preview on Mac, Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), iOS Files app, Android PDF viewer. AES-encrypted PDFs are universally supported.
Try It
Protect your PDF at fixmypdf.in/tools/protect — free, no Acrobat, no subscription, works everywhere.
Try Protect PDF Now — Free
Browser-based, private, and instant. No account or software required.
Open Protect PDF