Restrict opening
Protect PDF encrypts a copy with a password. It helps control access but is not DRM and cannot stop someone who knows the password from making another copy.
Protect PDFPDF Security and Privacy Tools
Security tasks require precise expectations. Protect PDF adds an opening password; Unlock PDF removes protection only when you provide the correct password. Sign PDF places a visible electronic signature, while PDF Metadata Cleaner removes common document-information fields. These are distinct operations, not a general promise of confidentiality or anonymity.
These PDF workflows run locally in the browser. Keep the original, choose a strong password, and review the downloaded copy. Changing a signed PDF can invalidate an existing certificate-based signature even when the visible page looks the same.
Choose a workflow
PDF Security tools
How to choose the right tool
Remove a known password
Unlock PDF requires a valid password supplied by someone authorized to access the document. It does not crack unknown passwords.
Unlock PDFAdd a visible signature
Sign PDF can draw, type or upload a signature and place it on the page. It is not a certificate-based cryptographic digital signature.
Sign PDFClean standard fields
PDF Metadata Cleaner removes common title, author and producer information; it cannot guarantee removal of every identifier in a complex PDF.
Metadata CleanerCommon use cases
- Add an opening password before sharing a document through an appropriate channel.
- Create an accessible copy of a password-protected file when you have the correct password and permission.
- Place a visible approval signature or remove standard document metadata before distribution.
Know what protection covers
A PDF password is one access control, not a complete sharing policy. Send passwords separately where appropriate and keep an unencrypted backup. PDFHope cannot retrieve a forgotten opening password. For confidential data, review the entire document, including attachments and visible content.
Signatures and metadata have limits
A visible mark can communicate intent, but it does not provide the cryptographic verification of a digital certificate. Removing standard metadata fields does not remove every possible embedded identifier, revision artifact or content clue. Neither tool should be represented as a legal or forensic guarantee.
PDF Security FAQ
Can PDFHope recover a forgotten PDF password?
No. Unlock PDF works only with the correct password; it does not guess, crack or bypass unknown passwords.
Is a visible signature digitally certified?
No. Sign PDF adds a visible electronic signature, not a certificate-backed cryptographic signature.
Does metadata cleaning make a PDF anonymous?
No. It removes standard document-information fields, but content and other embedded identifiers may remain.