---
title: "Document Engine: Password-protected PDFs"
canonical_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/troubleshooting/miscellaneous/password-protected-pdfs/"
md_url: "https://www.nutrient.io/guides/document-engine/troubleshooting/miscellaneous/password-protected-pdfs.md"
last_updated: "2026-06-09T10:22:07.607Z"
description: "Learn to unlock password-protected PDFs using the Document Engine API. Follow our guide for JWT usage and API endpoint instructions."
---

# Password-protected PDFs

To access password-protected documents via the Document Engine API, add the `pspdfkit-pdf-password` header to your API calls.

Refer to our guide on [API endpoints for working with documents](https://www.nutrient.io/api/reference/document-engine/upstream/#tag/Build-API) for more detailed instructions on how to access password-protected PDF documents.

### Client access

Clients can access password-protected PDFs by using a JSON Web Token (JWT) that includes the `password` claim, or by supplying the password when [opening or loading a password-protected document](https://www.nutrient.io/guides/web/features/password-protected-pdfs.md).
---

## Related pages

- [Common issues](/guides/document-engine/troubleshooting/miscellaneous/common-issues.md)
- [Bug reporting](/guides/document-engine/troubleshooting/miscellaneous/bug-reporting.md)
- [PDF Documents Rendering](/guides/document-engine/troubleshooting/miscellaneous/complexities-of-rendering-pdfs.md)
- [Difference between Docker and Kubernetes](/guides/document-engine/troubleshooting/miscellaneous/docker-vs-kubernetes.md)
- [Ensure Document Engine connects for activation](/guides/document-engine/troubleshooting/miscellaneous/network-infrastructure.md)