PDF Password Protect API

Convert pdf files to pdf with a single POST request. Upload a file as multipart/form-data and the API returns a download URL for the converted file.

Try it online Read the guide

Input

pdf

Output

pdf (application/pdf)

Credit cost

1 per file

Max file size

Per plan (10–500 MB)

Endpoint

POSThttps://api.fileswitch.co/api/v1/converter/pdf-password-protect

Authentication is optional for guests and recommended for production. Send either an API key or a JWT access token as a Bearer token. Authenticated requests deduct 1 credit from your balance; failed conversions are refunded. See Authentication for details.

Quick start

The same request in every supported language. Each example uploads a file and prints the downloadUrl from the response.

Example request

curl -X POST https://api.fileswitch.co/api/v1/converter/pdf-password-protect \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer fc_YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -F "file=@input.pdf" \
  -F "algorithm=aes256" \
  -F "allowPrinting=true" \
  -F "allowCopying=true" \
  -F "allowExtraction=true"

Parameters

Send file plus any optional options. Every option is optional and falls back to its default when omitted.

Field	Type	Default	Description
file	binary	—	The file to convert. Accepts `.pdf`
password	string	—	Password required to open the PDF.
ownerPassword	string	—	Owner password; defaults to the user password when omitted.
algorithm	string	aes256	Encryption algorithm. Values: aes256, rc4
allowPrinting	boolean	true	Allow printing the document.
allowModifying	boolean	false	Allow modifying the document.
allowCopying	boolean	true	Allow copying content.
allowAnnotating	boolean	false	Allow adding annotations.
allowFillingForms	boolean	false	Allow filling form fields.
allowExtraction	boolean	true	Allow extracting text.
allowAssembly	boolean	false	Allow assembling pages.
allowHighQualityPrint	boolean	false	Allow high-resolution printing.

Example request bodyjson

{
  "file": "input.pdf",
  "password": "",
  "ownerPassword": "",
  "algorithm": "aes256",
  "allowPrinting": true,
  "allowModifying": false,
  "allowCopying": true,
  "allowAnnotating": false,
  "allowFillingForms": false,
  "allowExtraction": true,
  "allowAssembly": false,
  "allowHighQualityPrint": false
}

Response

Every conversion endpoint returns the same success / message / data envelope. The data object is a Conversion record with a temporary downloadUrl.

Response bodyjson

{
  "success": true,
  "message": "Conversion completed",
  "data": {
    "id": "b10a5f2e-8c1e-4b3a-9c1d-2e3f4a5b6c7d",
    "inputFormat": "html",
    "outputFormat": "pdf",
    "inputFileName": "document.html",
    "outputFileName": "document.pdf",
    "inputFileSize": 45210,
    "outputFileSize": 88431,
    "status": "completed",
    "error": null,
    "creditCost": 2,
    "downloadUrl": "/api/v1/converter/download/conversions%2Fb10a5f2e-8c1e-4b3a-9c1d-2e3f4a5b6c7d%2Foutput.pdf",
    "createdAt": "2026-07-31T13:00:00.000Z",
    "completedAt": "2026-07-31T13:00:02.000Z"
  }
}

Prepend https://api.fileswitch.co/api/v1 to the downloadUrl and download with the same credentials. Files are retained temporarily and auto-deleted. See the full field reference in Response Schema.

Related conversions

PDF Merge

pdf pdf

PDF Split

pdf pdf

PDF Compress

pdf pdf

PDF Unlock

pdf pdf

Ready to convert pdf → pdf? Start free — no credit card required.

Convert online Read getting started