Unlock PDF

Unlock a PDF online: remove the open password (you must know it) and printing, copying and editing restrictions. Free, private, processed in your browser.

Files are processed in your browser and never uploaded.

Removes the open password and printing/copying/editing restrictions. You need the password to open protected PDFs; only unlock files you are allowed to.

How to remove a password from a PDF

  1. Drop the protected PDF onto the drop zone above, or click to choose it.
  2. If the PDF asks for a password when you open it, type that password into the Password field. If it opens freely but will not let you print, copy or edit, leave the field blank.
  3. Click Unlock PDF.
  4. Download the result. A file called statement.pdf is saved as statement-unlocked.pdf, fully decrypted and without any printing, copying or editing restrictions.

If the PDF is not protected at all, the tool tells you so instead of producing a copy. Decryption runs locally with pdf-lib, so the document and the password never leave your device.

Two kinds of PDF protection

A "locked" PDF can mean two quite different things, and the difference decides whether you need a password here:

Open passwordPermission restrictions only
What you noticeA password prompt appears before any page is shownThe PDF opens, but printing, copying or editing is greyed out
What you need hereThe open passwordNothing, leave the field blank
Typical exampleA payslip or medical report sent by emailA form or brochure where the author disabled copying

With an open password, the content is encrypted with a key derived from that password. Without it the pages are unreadable, which is why there is no way around entering it. Permission restrictions work differently: they are flags inside the file that compliant viewers choose to honour. Because a restricted PDF already opens without a password, the tool can decrypt it and write a clean copy with the flags removed.

Only unlock PDFs you are entitled to

This tool is meant for documents that are yours or that you have the right to use without restrictions: a bank statement you want to archive without retyping a password each time, a report you protected yourself, or a file whose owner gave you the password. Removing restrictions from someone else's document can breach copyright or a licence agreement. If in doubt, ask the author for an unrestricted copy.

Tips

  • Once unlocked, the PDF works with tools that refuse encrypted files, such as Compress PDF, Split PDF and PDF to Word.
  • To change a password rather than remove it, unlock the file here and then protect it again with Protect PDF.
  • An unlocked copy is readable by anyone who gets hold of it. Store it somewhere private, or keep it inside an encrypted archive made with Password Protect Any File.
Tip: Bank and utility statements often use a predictable password described in the accompanying email, such as part of your date of birth or account number. Check that email before assuming the password is lost.

Frequently asked questions

I forgot the password. Can you recover it?

No. The tool never cracks or guesses passwords, and a PDF that needs a password to open cannot be decrypted without it. Ask the sender for the password or for a new copy of the document.

Why does it say the PDF needs a password?

The file has an open password, so the field cannot be left blank. Enter the password you would type in your PDF viewer. If you did enter one and see "Incorrect password", check capitalisation and keyboard layout.

Can I remove printing and copying restrictions without a password?

Yes, as long as the PDF opens without a password. Leave the field blank and click Unlock PDF; the copy you download has no restrictions.

Is my password stored anywhere?

No. It is used only in your browser to decrypt the file and is not sent to any server.

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