Video by Gauging Gadgets
Add password protection to any PDF directly in your browser - no uploads, no installs.
Open Password Protect Tool →Sending a tax return to your accountant? Sharing medical records with a new doctor? Emailing a contract to a client? These documents contain sensitive information that shouldn't be accessible to anyone who stumbles across them. Password protecting your PDF ensures only the intended recipient can open it.
Most PDF tools require you to upload your files to a server or install desktop software. PDFGadget works differently, everything happens locally in your browser. Your PDF never leaves your device, and you can add strong encryption in under a minute.
Navigate to pdfgadget.com and select "Password Protect" from the menu, or go directly to pdfgadget.com/password-protect/. The tool works in any modern browser. This includes Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
Click the file selection area or drag and drop your PDF directly onto the page. You can also tap "Browse" on mobile devices to open your file picker. The PDF loads instantly in your browser without uploading anywhere.
Type a strong password in the password field. A good password should be at least 12 characters and include a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The tool will indicate password strength as you type.
Re-enter the same password in the confirmation field to ensure you've typed it correctly. This prevents you from accidentally locking yourself out of your own document due to a typo.
Click the "Protect PDF" button to apply encryption. Your browser will automatically download the password-protected version of your document. The original file remains unchanged.
PDFGadget provides enterprise-grade PDF encryption without the complexity or cost of traditional software.
After encryption, your protected PDF downloads automatically. Here's where to find it and what to do next:
Double-check that you're entering the exact password you set, including correct capitalization. Passwords are case-sensitive. If you've forgotten the password, there's no way to recover it. You'll need to re-protect the original unprotected file.
Check if your browser is blocking downloads. Look for a blocked download notification in the address bar or try allowing pop-ups for pdfgadget.com. Some ad blockers can also interfere with downloads.
Encryption adds a small amount of overhead to PDF files, typically 1-5%. If your file grew much larger, try refreshing the page and protecting the PDF again.
Make sure you've communicated the password through a separate channel (like a phone call or text message). Also verify that recipients are using a PDF reader that supports password-protected files — all major PDF readers do, but very old software might not.
PDFGadget uses AES-256 encryption, which is the industry standard for securing sensitive documents. This is the same encryption strength used by financial institutions and government agencies.
No. PDFGadget processes everything locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your PDF file never leaves your device, and we have no access to your documents or passwords.
There's no password recovery option because we never see your password. If you forget it, you'll need to protect the original unprotected PDF again with a new password. Consider using a password manager.
Currently, PDFGadget processes one PDF at a time. For batch protection, you'll need to repeat the process for each file. Each file can have a different password.
No. Any standard PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview on Mac, Chrome's built-in PDF viewer, and mobile PDF apps — can open password-protected PDFs. The recipient just needs to enter the password when prompted.