pdfcosmos

Set PDF Permissions

Control what people can do with your PDF (printing, copying, editing) in your browser.

Free, fast, and privacy-first.

Set permissions on your PDFs

or drag & drop files here

PDF files onlyup to 30 filesup to 100 MB each300 MB total

Set PDF permissions: control printing, copying, and editing

Decide what people can do with your PDF: allow or block printing, copying text and images, editing, and annotating. pdfcosmos applies the restrictions with AES-256 encryption entirely in your browser, so the file and your passwords never leave your device.

Set an owner password to control the permissions, and optionally an open password so only the right people can view the file at all. Permissions are advisory (honoured by well-behaved viewers and removable with the owner password), so for real confidentiality set an open password too, which encrypts the content itself.

  • Granular control

    Printing (full/low/none), copying, editing, and annotating, each on or off.

  • Owner + open passwords

    Control the restrictions, and optionally who can open the file at all.

  • Private by design

    Encryption runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

  • Honest about limits

    We tell you plainly that permissions are advisory. No false promises.

How to set permissions on a PDF

  1. Add your PDF(s)

    Drop one file (or up to 30) into the upload area.

  2. Choose what's allowed

    Set an owner password, then pick whether printing, copying, editing, and annotating are allowed.

  3. Apply & download

    Click the button to encrypt with your restrictions, then download (a ZIP for several).

Frequently asked questions

Are my PDF or password sent to a server?
No. Everything runs in your browser using WebAssembly (qpdf). Your file and passwords never leave your device. You can confirm it in your browser's Network tab.
What's the owner password for?
It's the password that controls the restrictions. Anyone can open the PDF (unless you also set an open password), but changing or removing the permissions requires the owner password. It's required. Without it there's nothing to enforce the restrictions.
Are these restrictions unbreakable?
No, and be aware of this. PDF permissions are advisory: they're honoured by well-behaved viewers (Acrobat, most readers), but the file is not content-encrypted unless you also set an open password, and tools (including ours) can lift the restrictions with the owner password. For true confidentiality, also set an open password so the content itself is encrypted.
What does each option do?
Printing can be allowed at full resolution, low resolution only, or blocked. Copying controls whether text and images can be extracted. Editing controls document changes. Annotating controls comments and form filling.
Can I set permissions on several PDFs at once?
Yes. Add up to 30 PDFs and the same settings apply to each. One downloads as a PDF, several as a ZIP.
Is Set PDF Permissions free?
Yes, it's completely free to use, with no sign-up and nothing to install.