Where to Download PDFEncrypt and Find Its Source Code or Command Line Options

Updated

PDFEncrypt is a free, open-source Windows app for password-protecting PDF files, and you can get it in four ways: the official installer, an installer without the .NET Framework, a portable edition (no installer), or the Microsoft Store. The source code is on GitHub, and the current release (version 1.1.8462.22528, released in 2023) adds command line arguments and an owner password option. All downloads are listed on the project's home page at pdfencrypt.net.

Download options on the official site

The home page lists these builds, each with a SHA1 checksum so you can verify the file after downloading:

Build What it is Notes
Installer Standard Windows installer Use this if you're not sure which one you need
Installer without .NET Framework Smaller installer for machines that already have .NET Pick this to avoid a redundant framework download
Portable Edition No installer required Runs without installing; useful on locked-down or shared PCs
Source Code Full source Available for inspection and building yourself

The app supports Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. The SHA1SUM values published alongside each download let you confirm the file wasn't altered in transit — compare the hash of your downloaded file against the one on the page before running it.

Microsoft Store and MSI deployment

  • Microsoft Store: PDFEncrypt is also available from the Microsoft Store, which handles installation and updates for you. This is the simplest route if you don't need a specific build.
  • MSI package (beta): An MSI was built for use with Windows Active Directory, requested by users who deploy software across managed machines. It was tested on Windows 10 x64 and Windows 11 x64. Note that the MSI does not include the .NET Framework, so target machines need it installed separately.

If you're rolling the app out to many computers through Group Policy or another AD-based tool, the MSI is the relevant artifact; for a single personal machine, the installer or Store version is simpler.

Source code and license

The complete source code is available on GitHub, linked from the home page. PDFEncrypt uses the iTextPDF open-source library for its encryption operations and is released under the AGPL license. That license matters if you plan to modify and redistribute the code or embed it in another product — check the AGPL terms before doing so.

Command line arguments and owner password

The current release adds command line arguments and an owner password. In PDF terms, the owner password controls permissions (such as restricting printing or copying) while the user password controls opening the document. The command line support means you can encrypt PDFs in a script or batch process rather than clicking through the interface each time. The home page's news section announces this release but does not reproduce the full argument list, so consult the project's documentation or GitHub repository for the exact syntax.

A note on DRM

The site's own news article (May 3, 2024) discusses whether PDFEncrypt is suitable for Digital Rights Management. It addresses a common user question: how to create PDFs that open without a password but still can't be freely copied or modified. If DRM-style restriction is your goal rather than simple password protection, read that article first — standard PDF encryption and true DRM are not the same thing.

Quick answers

  • Fastest install: Microsoft Store.
  • No install: Portable Edition.
  • Managed/AD deployment: MSI (beta), with .NET installed separately.
  • Audit or build yourself: source code on GitHub.
  • Automation: use the command line arguments in the current release.

All of these are reachable from pdfencrypt.net, which is the canonical starting point for downloads, checksums, and release news.