Set PDF permissions
Let people read the file but not print, copy or change it. An owner password protects the settings.
Drop your PDF files here or click to browse
Stays on your device — nothing is uploaded
Select several files to process them together
How do I set PDF permissions for free?
Open PDFkitt's Set PDF Permissions tool (pdfkitt.com/pdf-permissions/): choose the PDF, set an owner password, tick the permissions, then download. It is free, needs no account and adds no watermark, and it runs entirely in your browser — the file is never uploaded to a server.
- Price
- Free — no trial, no paid tier, no watermark
- Account
- Not needed
- File upload
- None — processed on your device, in the browser
- Input
- PDF files (several at once)
- Limits
- No daily quota and no file-count limit
- Works on
- Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android, in any modern browser
Updated · by the PDFkitt team
Sometimes a document should be readable by anyone but not printable, copyable or editable — a preview, a manuscript, a licensed report. PDF permissions do exactly that: the file opens normally, but the reader software refuses the actions you switched off. An owner password protects the settings so only you can change them.
Permissions are honoured by well-behaved readers (Acrobat, Preview, browsers). They are a deterrent, not a wall: a determined person with the right tools can remove them, so combine them with an open password for truly confidential material.
How to set PDF permissions
- Choose the PDF Drop it on the upload card.
- Set an owner password And, optionally, a password to open.
- Tick the permissions Printing, copying, editing, annotating, forms, page assembly.
- Download The restricted PDF.
Why use PDFkitt to set PDF Permissions?
The file is processed inside your browser tab. Disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it still works.
No signup, no email, no daily quota, no page limit, no watermark. Use it as often as you like.
Phone, tablet or desktop, in Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox. Nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
Can permissions be bypassed?
By someone with the owner password or specialised software, yes. Use an open password for real confidentiality.
Do all viewers respect them?
Mainstream readers do; some open-source viewers ignore them.
Are my passwords or files sent anywhere?
No. Encryption and decryption happen inside your browser with standard PDF algorithms; passwords are never transmitted or stored.