Protect PDF
Password protect a PDF
Lock a document before you send it on. Layers applies the password inside our secure workspace, which means the file and the password you choose never travel to anyone else's server.
Start here
Add a password to your PDF
Open the workspace protection tool, load your document and set the password that will be required to open it.
Protect a PDFThe password is applied in our secure workspace — neither the file nor the password is sent to us.
What you get
Applied privately
Encryption happens in our secure workspace tab, not on a server.
We never see the password
It is used once, in memory, and then discarded.
Opens anywhere
Standard PDF protection that every reader understands.
Removable
You can take the password off again with the unlock tool.
How to password protect a PDF
- 1
Open the protection tool
Use the button above to load the workspace.
- 2
Add your document
Drop the PDF in from your files, Google Drive or Dropbox.
- 3
Set a password
Choose a strong password. Store it somewhere safe — it cannot be recovered.
- 4
Download
Save the protected file. The working copy is wiped from memory afterwards.
Common questions
What if I forget the password?
Nobody can recover it — not even us. Keep it in a password manager.
Is this an electronic signature?
No. Layers deliberately does not offer e-signatures; this only controls who can open the file.
Does protecting change the content?
No. Only the access rules change.