Protect PDF
Lock a PDF with a password. The document is encrypted on your device, so neither the file nor the password leaves your browser.
Processed in your browser. This tool reads your file locally and does not upload it to any server. How we handle your files.
How to protect pdf
Step 1
Choose the PDF you want to protect.
Step 2
Set a user password, and optionally a separate owner password.
Step 3
Click Protect PDF and download the encrypted document.
Why use IlikePDF?
Your files stay with you
Tools marked as browser-based read your document locally. There is no upload step, no server-side storage and no account.
No signup, no watermarks
Every tool is free to use and adds nothing to your document that you didn't ask for.
Honest about limits
Where a conversion can't be perfect in a browser, we say so on the page instead of shipping a file that quietly loses your formatting.
Works on your phone
The interface is built for small screens as well as desktop, so you can fix a document wherever you are.
Frequently asked questions
How strong is the encryption?
It implements the PDF Standard Security Handler with RC4 at 40-bit, which is the broadly compatible revision every reader supports. It stops casual access but is not strong modern cryptography — for genuinely sensitive material, use an encrypted archive or full-disk encryption as well.
What's the difference between user and owner passwords?
The user password is needed to open the file. The owner password controls permissions such as printing. If you set only a user password it is used for both.
Can you recover my password if I forget it?
No. Nothing is stored anywhere, so a forgotten password means the file cannot be opened.