# PDF Password Protector Set PDF open password and permission restrictions (printing/copying) > Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-password-protector - **Category:** PDF Tools - **Keywords:** pdf, password, permission, copy, print, encryption, qpdf ## Overview Protect an existing PDF with password encryption. **Supports:** - Open password for document access - Optional owner password for stronger control - Restrict printing and text extraction (copy) - 128-bit or 256-bit encryption via qpdf ## Inputs - **Source PDF File** (file): Upload one PDF - **Open Password** (text): Required to open PDF - **Owner Password (Optional)** (text): Optional; auto-generated if empty - **Allow Printing** (checkbox) - **Allow Copy/Extract** (checkbox) - **Encryption Level** (select) ## When to use - When you need to prevent unauthorized access to confidential reports or contracts. - When you want to share a document for viewing while disabling the ability to copy or extract text. - When you need to restrict physical printing of digital documents to maintain version control. ## How it works - Upload your source PDF file to the tool. - Set a strong open password and an optional owner password for advanced permission management. - Toggle specific restrictions for printing and text copying as needed. - Select your preferred encryption level (128-bit or 256-bit) and generate your protected file. ## Use cases - Protecting sensitive financial statements before emailing them to clients. - Distributing internal company memos that should not be printed or copied. - Securing intellectual property in digital documents shared with external partners. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between an open password and an owner password? An open password is required to view the file, while an owner password allows you to set and modify permission restrictions. ### Can I prevent users from copying text from my PDF? Yes, by unchecking the 'Allow Copy/Extract' option, you can restrict users from selecting and copying text from the document. ### Is my data stored on your servers? Files are processed securely and are not stored permanently; they are removed after the task is completed. ### What encryption levels are supported? The tool supports both 128-bit and 256-bit encryption standards via qpdf for high-level security. ### Will my PDF be readable on all devices after encryption? Yes, once the correct password is provided, the PDF remains compatible with standard PDF readers. ## Related tools - [PDF Permissions Set](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-permissions-set): Set password protection and permissions for PDF documents - [PDF Anonymizer Report](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-anonymizer-report): Automatically redact names, emails, and phone numbers, then export anonymized PDF - [PDF Deskew](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-deskew): Automatically detect and correct skewed (tilted) PDF pages. 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