How to use Protect PDF
- 1
Choose the PDF you want to lock.
- 2
Type a strong password twice and decide whether printing and copying are allowed.
- 3
Press Protect PDF and download the encrypted file.
Real encryption, not a cover page
FileSwiftly uses QPDF, a widely trusted open-source PDF library, to encrypt the whole document with AES-256 — the strongest method in the PDF standard, supported by Adobe Acrobat, Preview, Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Without the password, the content is unreadable.
Choosing a password
Length beats complexity: four or five random words, or 14+ characters, resist guessing far better than a short word with symbols. Send the password through a different channel than the file — for example, the PDF by email and the password by text message.
Print and copy permissions
You can also ask viewers to block printing or copying text. These permissions are honored by mainstream apps but are not a hard barrier: anyone who can open the file could take screenshots. The open password is the real protection.
If you lose the password
There is no back door. FileSwiftly never sees or stores your password, so it cannot be recovered. Keep your unprotected original somewhere safe or store the password in a password manager.
Protect PDF: frequently asked questions
Which encryption does FileSwiftly use?
AES with a 256-bit key (PDF security handler revision 6), the current standard method.
Can I protect several PDFs with the same password?
Yes. Add several files; each is encrypted with the password you type and returned in a ZIP.
Is my password sent to a server?
No. The password and the file stay in your browser tab; nothing is uploaded.
How do I remove the password later?
Use Unlock PDF and enter the password once to save an unprotected copy.