PDF tool for Mac

Password-protect a PDF before you send it.

Payslips, tax returns, ID scans and contracts shouldn’t sit unprotected in someone’s inbox. Lock them with a password in seconds.

Download for Mac

Free 7-day trial · then one purchase, no subscription · macOS 14+

In short: To password-protect a PDF on a Mac, drag it, pause and choose Protect in Sheaf, then type a password. Sheaf saves an encrypted copy that asks for the password to open. Preview can also encrypt when you export a PDF.Updated 13 November 2026

Sheaf's action circle open around a dragged PDF
Password addedOnly people you tell can open it
Stays on your MacNo upload, works offline
No accountNothing to sign up for
Originals untouchedEvery result is a new file
One-time purchaseNo subscription
How it works

Password-protect PDF in three moves.

No app to open, no window to find. It happens where the file already is.

  1. Drag

    Start dragging the file from Finder, Mail, Photos or your desktop.

  2. Pause

    Hold still for a moment. Sheaf’s actions open in a circle around your cursor.

  3. Choose More › Protect

    Type a password. An encrypted copy appears next to the original.

Your options on a Mac

Three ways to do it, honestly compared.

Preview (built in)

File › Export, tick Encrypt, type a password.

  • Free and built in
  • Encrypts the PDF
  • Easy to overwrite the original

Online PDF sites

Upload the file to a website, wait, download the result.

  • Your document goes to someone else’s server
  • Free plans limit files, size or tasks per day
  • Needs an internet connection

SheafFastest

Drag the file, pause, let go.

  • Encrypted copy, original untouched
  • Asks for the password to open
  • Nothing uploaded

Send the password separately

A password is only as safe as how you share it. Send the PDF by email and the password by text message or a call, never in the same email.

Good passwords for documents

Use something the receiver can type easily but others can’t guess: three random words beat a short complicated one. Banks and payroll often use a date of birth or part of an ID number; that’s convenient but weaker.

Opening protected PDFs you receive

Got a statement or payslip locked with your details? See how to open a password-protected PDF.

Questions

How do I put a password on a PDF on a Mac for free?

In Preview: File › Export, tick Encrypt and enter a password. Sheaf does the same from a drag and keeps the original unchanged.

Can I remove the password later?

If you know it, yes: open the protected copy and save it without encryption, or keep the original you started from.

Is a password-protected PDF secure?

Modern PDF encryption is strong; the weak point is usually the password. Use a long one and send it separately.

Keep going

Related tools and guides

Unlock a PDF

Open statements and payslips you’re allowed to.

Redact PDF

Removes the text, not just covers it.

Remove PDF metadata

Author, history, comments, hidden layers.

Sign PDF

Draw once, place it anywhere.

For HR & payroll

Payslips, IDs and forms.

For job seekers

Résumés, applications, offer letters.

Your next PDF takes one second.

Drag it, pause, let go. Free for 7 days, then yours with one purchase. Family Sharing included.

Download for Mac

Mac App Store · macOS 14 or later · Apple silicon and Intel