---
title: "Passwords and expiry"
description: "Ask readers for a password before a document or file opens, and have its link stop working after a day, a week, a month or on a date."
canonical_url: https://docs.markdrop.in/documents/passwords-and-expiry
last_updated: 2026-10-30
site: "Markdrop Docs"
index: https://docs.markdrop.in/llms.txt
---

# Passwords and expiry

A password makes readers type something before a link opens. An expiry makes the link stop working at a time you choose. Both work on documents and files, and you can set them when you publish or change them later.

## Add a password

When you publish, choose the **Password** chip (or the **Password** field on the upload page) and type it. Passwords can be up to 100 characters.

Readers then see "This document is password protected" and a password box before anything loads. The page title and link preview don't show the title or the text either. See [Link previews](https://docs.markdrop.in/documents/link-previews).

### Who the password applies to

The password is for strangers holding the link. People who already have access skip it:

- you, signed in as the owner;
- anyone holding the [edit secret](https://docs.markdrop.in/documents/edit-key);
- people you added by email, and your workspace team when the document is open to them.

A password only matters when **Who can open it** is **Anyone with the link**. A document set to **Only people added** or to a workspace team stays closed to strangers whatever the password. See [Who can open what](https://docs.markdrop.in/sharing/who-can-open).

### Wrong guesses

After 10 wrong passwords in a minute, or 50 in an hour, from the same IP address, Markdrop stops checking for a while and says "Too many wrong passwords. Try again in a few minutes."

## Set an expiry

When you publish, choose the **Expires** chip and pick **In 1 day**, **In 7 days**, **In 30 days** or **On a date…** to choose an exact day and time. The hint underneath says when that is, in your time zone.

When the time comes, the link stops working for everyone and Markdrop deletes the document. For a file, that includes the file and its old versions. An expiry has to be at least a minute in the future.

> **Danger: Expiry deletes**
>
> An expired document is gone, not hidden. You can't extend it afterwards or get it back. If you might need it later, keep your own copy.

## Change them later

You need to be the owner, or hold the edit secret. The share dialog and file settings are for the signed-in owner; with only the edit secret, use the document editor.

**Share dialog**

Choose **Share** on the document, then **More options: password and expiry**.

- Type a new **Password** and choose **Save options**. Anyone without access now needs the new password.
- Choose **Remove password** to open it to anyone with the link again.
- Pick a new **Expires** value: **Never**, **In 1 hour**, **In 1 day**, **In 7 days**, **In 30 days** or **On a date…**, then **Save options**.

**Document editor**

Choose **Edit**, then **Settings**. Under **Password**, choose **Add a password** or **Remove password**. Under **Expiry**, choose **Remove expiry**, a new period, or **On a date…**. Settings are saved when you choose **Save changes**.

**File settings**

Open the file and choose **More artifact actions › Settings**. Change **Password** (or **Remove the password**) and **Expires**, then choose **Save changes**.

Changing the password takes effect at once. Readers who opened it with the old password are asked again, and links to a protected file's bytes that were already handed out stop working.

## Open a protected document from code

Send the password in the `X-Read-Password` header:

```bash title="Read a password-protected document"
curl https://api.markdrop.in/api/v1/documents/q3-plan \
  -H "X-Read-Password: correct horse battery staple"
```

## Related

- [Who can open what](https://docs.markdrop.in/sharing/who-can-open)
- [End-to-end encryption](https://docs.markdrop.in/sharing/end-to-end-encryption)
- [Edit with your edit secret](https://docs.markdrop.in/documents/edit-key)