PDF security
Standard PDF password encryption
A strict adapter page for real PDF encryption engines; it will not pretend pdf-lib can do this alone.
pdf-lib cannot emit a standard encrypted PDF security dictionary. This page is the integration boundary for a real browser-side encryption engine.
User guide
How to use Standard PDF Password Encryption Adapter
Connect a browser-compatible standards engine that writes PDF encryption dictionaries and permissions correctly.
- 1
Upload an unencrypted PDF.
- 2
Enter and confirm the user password, then select permissions.
- 3
Run the configured encryption adapter locally.
- 4
Reopen the result in independent PDF viewers and verify password and permission behavior.
Best for
- WASM encryption-engine integration
- Testing password-protected PDF output
Important limitation
The bundled adapter is not itself a complete encryption engine. Real output requires an audited implementation of the applicable PDF encryption revision; permissions are viewer-enforced rather than absolute DRM.
Frequently asked questions
Can pdf-lib encrypt PDFs with an opening password?
No. A separate standards-compatible engine is required.
How do I know encryption worked?
Reopen the downloaded file in multiple independent viewers and confirm a password is required.
PDFPerch processes files locally unless this guide explicitly identifies a cloud-dependent feature. Always keep an original copy and verify critical output before submission, printing, signing, or accounting use.