How to Password-Protect a File You Share
Sometimes a share link isn't enough — you want a second lock so that only the intended person can open the file, even if the link ends up in the wrong place. Adding a password is the easiest way, and you can do it in seconds without installing anything.
Send a password-protected file
Use Send a file:
- Open Send and choose your file.
- Enter a password in the optional password field.
- Create the link and share it — the recipient will be asked for the password before they can download.
How the protection works
The file is end-to-end encrypted, and the password is turned into a secure key check in your browser — the actual password is never sent to or stored on our servers. To open the file, someone needs both the link and the password. Get either one wrong and the download is refused.
Best practices
- Send the password separately. Text it or say it in person — don't put it in the same email as the link.
- Use a strong password that isn't easy to guess, especially for sensitive documents.
- Set a short expiry. Files auto-delete after up to 24 hours, so they don't linger.
Related: document handling
For documents you share often, you might also want to sign a PDF, add a watermark, or compress it before sending.
FAQ
Can you (OhoTool) see my password or file?
No. The password is checked using a value derived in your browser, and the file is encrypted with a key that only lives in the link — we store neither.
What if the recipient forgets the password?
There's no reset — that's the point of the protection. Just send the file again with a new password.