On the Internet we can find numerous free programs to create PDFs and convert them into Word documents (or vice versa), so as to make simple changes or write important documents for the job or activity. If we fear that these documents end up in the wrong hands or that need further protection, we discover in this guide all the best tools and sites to protect a PDF with a password, so as to prevent anyone from opening it or modifying it without our consent (we will have to communicate the password at a later time or by phone, so as to be sure that it is only opened by whoever we decide).
It will thus be very easy to share confidential information about your business or work even via email or chat, without fear that the document may be stolen.
READ ALSO: Top 10 programs to edit PDF
How to password protect a PDF
Before starting we warn you that on the Internet there are many tools and sites that offer unlocking of protected PDFs (some of these are also reviewed on this page where they offer PDF blocking) but these PDF unlocking procedures in many cases are ineffective or take too long to break the security of a document so the game is still worth the candle, especially if we choose the right programs or services.
Among the many applications and websites available we will show you those that can add a password to any PDF document created or modified.
We will thus be able to manage and encrypt these documents which may contain confidential data.
1) PDF reDirect
PDF reDirect is a virtual printer that creates PDF files from Word documents or from any Web page, just run the Print command and select it to have comfortable PDFs ready to be shared.
We can download PDF ReDirect from here -> PDF ReDirect .
PDF ReDirect offers among its many features also the ability to encrypt (set a password) the PDF file with 128bit protection; just open the main page of the program, click on the item Encrypt PDF File and enter the password with which we want to protect the PDF document in the field below.
At the time of virtual printing the PDF will be protected and you will need to enter the chosen password to unlock it.
2) PDF-XChange Editor
PDF-XChange Editor is an alternative PDF document viewer to Adobe that also offers password protection functionality.
We can download this program for free from here -> PDF-XChange Editor .
Once installed on the PC all we have to do is open any PDF document that is not protected with this program, click on the top left on File -> Document Properties -> Security and in Security Method choose Password Security .
By entering the chosen password and finally clicking on Apply Security Policy you will immediately get a password-protected PDF document.
We also wrote a guide to X-Change PDF Viewer on how to insert text and fill in fields on PDF documents.
3) SodaPDFOnline
If we do not have the possibility to use programs on the computer, we can visit the SodaPDFOnline website which allows you to set up online password protection for the PDF file, by uploading it to its web page.
The site is available here -> SodaPDFOnline .
On this page, simply upload the PDF to be protected by dragging it into the box or clicking on Choose File (we can also upload it from Google Drive or Dropboc); once the upload is complete, all we have to do is choose a password and download the new PDF protected with the chosen password.
The site also offers a small tool for working offline from any PC, freely downloadable from here -> Protect PDF Files .
4) LightPDF
Another service that we can test online to edit and lock a PDF with a password is LightPDF, viewable from here -> LightPDF .
Again, simply load the file into the (Choose File) page to open the online editor and decide, when saving the changes, whether or not to add password protection.
The site also offers a section dedicated to just adding passwords to PDFs, so you don't have to change anything; the PDF protection page is available here -> Protect PDF .
5) SmallPDF
One of the best online services to protect a PDF with a password is certainly SmallPDF, reachable here -> SmallPDF .
Its use is very simple: upload the PDF file that we intend to protect with a password by dragging it into the window or using the Choose file, From Dropbox or From Google Drive buttons (to upload the PDF from the cloud) enter the password that we intend to use and is confirmed; at the end the site will allow you to download the PDF file equal to how we had uploaded it but this time protected by a password.
6) PDF24 Tools
The last Web service we want to report to you to protect PDF with a password is PDF24 Tools, reachable here -> PDF24 Tools .
The operation of the service is very similar to the sites already seen a little while ago: we have to load the PDF file to be protected by dragging it inside the window or we click in the center to open the file manager; once loaded we insert the password and wait for the download to start, with our PDF now protected by a password therefore inaccessible to any glance.
How to unlock PDFs
Just as PDFs are password protected, so are services to unlock locked PDFs, making it unnecessary to add a password to your PDF document in some cases.
If we want to test the protection for the chosen PDF (so as to understand immediately if it is at risk or it is safe), we can try to unlock a password-protected PDF with the most famous free tools available in the following guide.
READ ALSO -> Unlock a password-protected PDF file
