Unlock PDF
Remove a password you know from a PDF, or lift print and copy limits from your own file, so it opens freely. Your password never leaves your device.
- Files stay on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
- Free, no sign-up, no daily limit.
- Works with Wi-Fi off once the page has loaded. Check it yourself
Updated by Khokhar Sab
How do I remove a password from a PDF?
Choose the locked PDF and the tool checks what kind of protection it has. Type the password, tick the box confirming you own the file or have permission, and press Unlock PDF. You get a copy that opens without a password. The original locked file is not changed.
- Press Choose a locked PDF.
- Type the Password (press Show to check your typing).
- Tick I own this file or have permission.
- Press Unlock PDF, then Download.
Can I unlock a PDF without the password?
Not with this tool, and that is on purpose. A PDF that needs a password to open is encrypted, and the password is the key. This tool only removes passwords you already know. If you forgot the password to your own file, check the email or service that sent it, or ask the person who made the PDF.
What is the difference between an open password and restrictions?
An open password stops anyone from viewing the PDF without it. Restrictions, set with a separate owner password, let anyone open the file but block printing, copying text or editing. The tool tells you which kind your file has. For restrictions-only files no password is needed: confirm you have permission and unlock.
Is it safe to unlock a PDF online?
It is safe here because nothing goes online. Server-based unlock sites need both the file and its password uploaded. This tool runs in your browser: the password is used on your device and forgotten when you close the page. In our build test, a 10-page file locked with AES-256 came back unlocked with all its text intact.
| Step | Result |
|---|---|
| Original 10-page PDF | 22 KB |
| Locked with a password (AES-256) | 23 KB |
| Unlocked with the same password | 22 KB, opens with no password |
Limits and fixes
- Unknown passwords cannot be removed. The tool never tries to guess them.
- Certificate-protected PDFs (locked to a digital ID rather than a password) are not supported.
- Digital signatures stop being valid in the unlocked copy, because the file changes.
- Bookmarks, links and form fields are kept in the unlocked copy.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to unlock a PDF?
Removing a password you were given, or protection from your own file, is normal. Do not remove protection from files you are not allowed to change. This is general information, not legal advice.
Why does it say my password is wrong?
PDF passwords are case-sensitive. Press Show to check capital letters and spaces, and try copying the password from where you received it.
Does unlocking reduce quality?
No. The file is saved again without its encryption; nothing is compressed or turned into images.
Can I unlock several PDFs at once?
One file at a time for now. Each unlock takes a few seconds.
Is my password stored?
No. It is used in your browser to open the file and is gone when you close or reload the page.
Related PDF tools
Learn more
How this tool was built and tested
- pdf-lib, Cantoo fork (MIT), version 2.11.1: opens the PDF with your password and saves it again without encryption
- Test file: a 10-page text PDF generated by the site build, locked and unlocked with the tool code