By NakodaX Marketing team
NakodaX · · Updated
NakodaX blog/Document Protection·2 min read
How do you send a PDF that expires?
An ordinary PDF cannot expire, because the file itself is complete. To send one that stops opening, protect it first. With NakodaX you choose an expiry of 1, 7, 30 or 90 days, or a date, and an open limit. The file checks both each time it opens. You can also revoke it sooner.
A date on a PDF is a promise. A protected file checks the date every time it opens.
On this page
You send a quote or a draft contract and want it to stop being usable after a set time.
A date written on the PDF is only a promise. The file does not know the date has passed.
Why can a normal PDF not expire?
A PDF is a complete file. Once it arrives, the recipient has a full copy with no connection to you. An expiring link only controls the link. If the file was downloaded from it, the downloaded copy has no end date.
How do you send a PDF that expires?
- Open the PDF in Document Protection. It is encrypted in your browser before it leaves.
- Share it by email with the recipient. They need no account.
- Choose an expiry: 1, 7, 30 or 90 days, or a date.
- Choose how many times it can be opened: 1, 3, 5, 10, 25 or unlimited.
- Send. If you need to end it sooner, revoke the share.
What happens when it expires?
The file stops opening, on any device. A reader whose access has ended sees that it has ended. If the file is forwarded, the new reader has to ask for access, and you or the recipient decides. A refresh counts as an open, so the open limit includes it.
What does this not do?
Expiry ends future openings. It does not erase what someone already read, and it cannot stop a screenshot. A watermark with the reader's name and the time deters sharing on documents. The story of the quote that toured procurement shows a case where an end date matters.
The takeaway
Protect the PDF, set an expiry and an open limit, and revoke it sooner if you need to.
Related product
NakodaX Document Protection
Protect documents before sharing. Control who can open them, what they can see, when access ends and how protected documents are used.
See how it worksCommon questions
Can I make a PDF stop opening after a date?
Yes, if you protect it before sending. Choose an expiry of 1, 7, 30 or 90 days, or a date.
Does the recipient need an account?
No. They open it in the browser.
Can I limit how many times a PDF is opened?
Yes. Choose 1, 3, 5, 10, 25 or unlimited opens. A refresh counts as an open.
