PDFEncrypt

PDFEncrypt is a free, open-source native Windows app that allows you to password protect (encrypt) PDF files for free, without purchasing expensive software.

Latest version: 1.1.8462.22528, released in 2023

Download Installer

SHA1SUM: cf094f87d8c326e43d5cd9805d51c33544cbfe54

Download Installer without .Net Framework
SHA1SUM: 936ffe41d184de5f5fbb5fd4e2e65f9f63b1efb1

Portable Edition (no installer)

SHA1SUM: 73e8cba5a633b4b31455d02e77c99d77e5cd027a

Download Source Code

Get PDFEncrypt from the Microsoft Store

About The App

PDFEncrypt is a free, open-source utility to encrypt PDF files using standard PDF encryption algorithms. When a document is encrypted, its contents become unreadable. An authorized user can decrypt the document to obtain access to the contents. If a PDF document is encrypted with a password, the user must specify the password before the document can be viewed in Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat.

PDFEncrypt provides a means to encrypt any standard PDF document for free, without the need to purchase the Adobe Acrobat software or upload your confidential PDF files to a third-party server for encryption. The app runs directly on your Windows PC and allows you to specify a password (required to open the document) as well as many options and permissions to apply to the PDF file.

This app uses the iTextPDF open source library for encryption operations, and is released under the AGPL license. Complete source code is available on GitHub, and you can download the installer for Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 below.

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News

Code Signing Coming Soon!

by Ryan | Oct 11, 2024 | Uncategorized

SSL.com have graciously donated a Code Signing Certificate to the PDFEncrypt.net project! Soon, we will be signing all the PDFEncrypt executables and installers, in order to further assure users that the files they download are genuine and unmodified. Code Signing...

Digital Rights Management (DRM) and PDFEncrypt

by Ryan | May 3, 2024 | Tips

This article explores the suitability of using PDFEncrypt to achieve Digital Rights Management (DRM). I frequently receive questions from users asking how to use PDFEncrypt to create PDF files that can be opened without a password, but which can't be...

MSI available (beta)

by Ryan | Apr 29, 2023 | Uncategorized

Users have requested a MSI package for use with Windows Active Directory. I built the PDFEncrypt V1 MSI using the free version of Advanced Installer. It has been tested on Windows 10 x64 and Windows 11 x64. Note that the MSI does not include .NET framework, so you...

Review and get free gift cards

by Ryan | Mar 13, 2023 | Uncategorized

We have set up a review link on Capterra to try and reach more people with the app. The first 85 people to review PDFEncrypt will get free gift cards. Here's the link: Review PDFEncrypt on Capterra

Now available in the Microsoft Store!

by Ryan | Mar 13, 2023 | Uncategorized

I'm excited to announce that the PDFEncrypt app is now available in the Microsoft Store!

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Get the source code

PDFEncrypt is a free, open-source application. The source code is available on GitHub.

Now available in the Microsoft Store!

PDFEncrypt is popular worldwide!

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Recommended by PCMAG.COM

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-password-protect-a-pdf

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Need Stronger Protection?

For stronger protection than passwords, use Locklizard PDF DRM to protect your PDF files from copying & sharing.

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