Remove ZIP Password

Remove the password from a ZIP file online: enter the password once and download an unencrypted copy of the archive. Works with AES and ZipCrypto ZIPs.

Files are processed in your browser and never uploaded.

How to remove a password from a ZIP file

  1. Drop the encrypted ZIP onto the drop zone above, or click to choose it.
  2. Type the archive's current password into the Password field.
  3. Click Remove password. The tool decrypts every file and writes a fresh archive with no encryption.
  4. Download the result, named after the original with -unlocked.zip at the end, for example contracts-unlocked.zip.

Decryption happens in your browser with zip.js. The archive and the password are never uploaded.

What "removing the password" really means

A password-protected ZIP is not a normal ZIP with a lock bolted on. Each entry's data is encrypted individually, with either AES-256 or the older ZipCrypto method, and a flag in the entry's header tells unzip programs to ask for a key. There is no switch that can simply be turned off. To produce an unprotected copy, every file has to be decrypted with the correct password and then written into a new archive.

That is exactly what this tool does. The new ZIP contains the same files, in the same folders, with their original modification dates. Only folders without files are left out, because empty folders are not stored. Your original encrypted archive is not touched, so you still have it if you need the protected version later.

The password is checked before the whole archive is processed. If it is wrong, you get "Incorrect password." straight away. If the archive turns out not to be encrypted at all, the tool tells you there is nothing to remove instead of producing a duplicate.

Good reasons to unlock a ZIP

  • Windows File Explorer cannot open AES-256 ZIPs. An unlocked copy opens with a double-click on any PC.
  • Some backup tools, upload forms and document systems reject or skip encrypted archives.
  • When you only want to change the password, unlocking is unnecessary: Password Protect ZIP accepts the current password and applies a new one in one step.

Bear in mind that the unlocked copy is readable by anyone who gets hold of it. Delete it once you are done if the contents are confidential.

Tips

  • Need just one or two files rather than the whole archive? Unzip Files and ZIP Viewer both take the password and let you download individual files.
  • Locked PDF or Office document instead? Try Unlock PDF or Unlock Word.
  • When re-protecting later, a random password from the password generator is far stronger than a reused one.
Tip: Only remove passwords from archives you own or are allowed to open. This tool needs the correct password; it does not bypass encryption.

Frequently asked questions

I forgot the password. Can this tool recover it?

No. Without the correct password the files cannot be decrypted, and these tools never crack or guess passwords. Ask whoever created the archive for the password or an unencrypted copy.

Can I remove the password from a RAR or 7Z file?

No. Encrypted RAR and 7Z archives cannot be opened in the browser. This tool works with encrypted ZIP files only.

Does it work with ZipCrypto archives as well as AES?

Yes. Both encryption methods are supported, as long as you enter the right password.

Will the unlocked ZIP be larger or lose quality?

The files inside are bit-for-bit identical to the originals. The archive is recompressed while it is rewritten, so its total size may differ slightly from the encrypted version.

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