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Unlock PDF

Remove the password from a PDF you can open and lift print, copy and edit restrictions. Decryption runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded anywhere.

Runs in your browser · Nothing uploaded · No sign-up

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About the Unlock PDF

Unlock PDF removes the password from a PDF you can open, and lifts restrictions on printing, copying and editing, so you get a normal copy that opens straight away and works with every other tool. It first checks the file and tells you which kind of protection it has; files with only permission restrictions unlock without any password. Everything runs in your browser with QPDF, so neither the file nor the password is uploaded.

PDFs are processed in your browser (pdf-lib, PDF.js and, for passwords, QPDF compiled to WebAssembly), so contracts, invoices and scans never leave your device.

How to use the Unlock PDF

  1. Choose the protected PDF; the tool tells you whether it needs a password or only has restrictions.
  2. Enter the password if it has one (the one you type to open it).
  3. Click Unlock PDF and download the copy without a password.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the two passwords. A PDF can have an open password and a separate permissions password. Either one unlocks it here; if one fails, try the other.
  • Keeping the unlocked copy around. The unlocked file is no longer protected. Delete it when you are done if the content is sensitive.
  • Expecting it to fix a damaged file. Unlocking removes encryption only. A PDF that is corrupt will still be corrupt; QPDF tells you when it cannot read the file.

Works well with the Unlock PDF

Frequently asked questions

Can I unlock a PDF if I forgot the password?

Not if it needs a password to open: modern PDFs use AES encryption, and without the password the contents cannot be decrypted. Files that open freely but block printing or copying can be unlocked without one.

Is it legal to remove a PDF password?

Removing protection from your own documents, or ones you have permission to change, is fine. Do not use it to get around restrictions on documents you are not allowed to copy or edit.

Why do other PDF tools say my file is encrypted?

Many tools, including merging and compressing, cannot read encrypted PDFs, even ones that open without a password. Unlock the file here first, then use the unlocked copy.

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