Restrict PDF
Stop printing, copying or editing — no open password.
Add permission flags that ask PDF viewers to block printing, copying and editing, protected by an owner password. Honest caveat: these restrictions are advisory — some viewers ignore them. If you need strong protection, use Protect PDF (AES-256 encryption).
Your files are processed locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to a server, ever.
Tip
Drop your file here or click to browse. Everything is processed on this device — nothing is uploaded.
Quick answers
- What does this tool do?
- Stop printing, copying or editing — no open password. Add permission flags that ask PDF viewers to block printing, copying and editing, protected by an owner password. Honest caveat: these restrictions are advisory — some viewers ignore them.
- Is it free?
- Yes — free and unlimited, with no account required and no watermark on the result.
- What files are supported?
- PDF files, up to 100 MB each.
- Where is my file processed?
- Entirely in your browser. Your file never leaves your device — nothing is uploaded to a server.
- What are the limitations?
- Uses RC4-40 encryption (PDF 1.4 compatibility). Restrictions are honored by standard readers but are not cryptographic protection against determined tools.
- What happens if processing fails?
- You get a clear message explaining what went wrong and how to fix it (try another file, check the format, or start over). Your original file is never touched.
How to Restrict PDF
- Upload a PDF.
- Tick the actions readers are allowed to take.
- Choose an owner password.
- Process and download the restricted PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Common problems and fixes
- The password is not asked when I reopen the file
Why: your PDF viewer remembered the password for the session, or you are opening the original rather than the protected copy.
Fix: test the newly downloaded file in a different viewer or an incognito window — the encryption is real and applied on download.
- I forgot the password I set
Why: the file is genuinely encrypted — there is no backdoor and no recovery key.
Fix: no tool can recover it honestly; keep document passwords in a password manager from the start.
- Some apps ignore the restrictions I set
Why: permission restrictions are honoured by compliant readers but are not cryptographically enforced against all software.
Fix: for real confidentiality use full encryption (open password), not permission flags alone.
Who uses Restrict PDF?
- Legal, medical and HR work — documents that must never touch a server — everything is encrypted locally in your browser.
- Anyone emailing sensitive files — a password layer on top of email, so only the recipient who knows it can open the file.
- Long-term archives — encrypted scans stay confidential even if the storage location is later shared or breached.