InTheTab PDF stays on your device

Password protect a PDF without uploading

Encrypt and lock a PDF right here in your browser. Anyone opening the PDF will need this password. Keep it somewhere safe: there’s no way to recover it.

    How to add a password to a PDF

    1. Choose your PDF. Click the box above and pick the file. It opens in this tab; nothing is sent anywhere.
    2. Type a password twice. The two must match, so a typo can’t lock you out of your own file.
    3. Protect and download. Save the new copy. It asks for the password every time it’s opened.

    Good to know

    • 256-bit AES encryption. The PDF is encrypted with AES-256, the strongest encryption the PDF format offers. Any PDF reader that supports it will ask for the password.
    • Your pages stay as they are. Nothing is redrawn or turned into images, so text stays selectable and searchable once the PDF is opened with the password.
    • The password can’t be recovered. Neither we nor anyone else can reset it. Store it in a password manager before you delete the original.
    • Already protected? A PDF that has a password needs it removed first with Unlock PDF, then you can set a new one here.

    Your PDF stays on your device

    Most online tools upload your PDF, and its password, to their servers. Here, the file is encrypted inside this browser tab by qpdf, an open-source PDF tool compiled to WebAssembly. That makes it safe for contracts, payslips, bank statements and ID scans.

    The page’s security policy tells your browser to block uploads, so the document can’t leave your device even by accident. You can check: open your browser’s developer tools, watch the Network tab, and protect a file. How InTheTab works

    You’ll also see a few small requests to Google Analytics. That’s our visit counter, and it never receives your files. Privacy policy

    Questions

    How strong is the protection?

    The PDF is encrypted with 256-bit AES. Without the password, the contents can’t be read. The weak point is the password itself, so use a long one that isn’t a name or a date.

    Is my password sent anywhere?

    No. The password and the PDF stay in this tab. We never get your files or text: the site has no accounts, and its only analytics, Google Analytics, counts visits without ever seeing what you add here.

    What if I forget the password?

    The file can’t be opened, and there’s no reset or recovery. Keep the unprotected original somewhere safe, or save the password in a password manager.

    Do I need to install anything or sign up?

    No. It runs in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android or iPhone. It’s free, there’s no sign-up and no watermark is added.