How to apply digital rights management permissions to a pdf
- Step 1Upload the PDF to control — Drop the document into the permission setter.
- Step 2Define the permission profile — Enable or disable Print, Copy, Edit, Annotate, and Form Fill independently.
- Step 3Set and confirm the owner password — Protect the permission settings with a strong owner password.
- Step 4Distribute the permission-controlled PDF — Send recipients the document with the open password if required.
Frequently asked questions
Is PDF permission control the same as enterprise DRM?+
No — PDF permissions are respected by compliant viewers but can be bypassed with specialist software. Enterprise DRM (Adobe AXML, Microsoft AIP) provides server-enforced controls.
Can I set an expiry date on the permissions?+
PDF permissions do not support expiry dates natively. Time-limited access requires an enterprise DRM solution.
What is the difference between open and owner passwords?+
The open password restricts who can open the file. The owner password protects the permission settings themselves. Both can be set independently.
Privacy first
All PDF processing runs locally in your browser using PDF-lib and pdf.js. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.