How to remove a password from a PDF
- Add the PDF. Drop it on the box or press Select PDF files. A file that asks for a password shows a lock and "Needs a password".
- Type the password. Passwords are case-sensitive, so check Caps Lock. Press Show to see what you typed.
- Press Unlock PDF. If the password is wrong, you get a clear message and can try again.
- Download the new copy. It opens without a password, and its pages, text and links are the same as before.
This tool needs the password
This is not a password cracker. A PDF that asks for a password when you open it is encrypted, and it can only be decrypted with that password. If you have lost it, ask the person who sent you the file for the password or for a copy without one.
What the tool does is save you from typing the password again and again: for example a bank statement, a payslip or a school report that you store safely on your own device and want to merge, compress or print without a prompt each time.
Only remove protection from files you have the right to change, such as your own documents or files you were given the password for.
PDFs with limits but no password
Some PDFs open without a password but block printing, copying text or making changes. These limits are set with a separate permissions password. Such files can be opened, so this tool can remove the limits without any password: just add the file and press the button. The card shows "has limits, no password" for these files.
Several files at once
You can add several files that share the same password, such as monthly statements from the same bank. If one of them uses a different password, the tool tells you which one, and you can do that file on its own.
Private and fast
The file and the password stay on your device. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded or stored. A 20 MB file takes about two seconds. The tool handles the old 40-bit and 128-bit protection as well as current AES-256 files.
Frequently asked questions
I forgot the password. Can this tool open the file?
No. Without the password the content can't be decrypted. Ask the sender for the password or for an unprotected copy.
Is the password saved anywhere?
No. It is only used in your browser while the file is processed, and it is gone when you close the page.
Will the new file look the same?
Yes. Only the encryption is removed. Pages, text, images, links and bookmarks stay as they were.
Can I add a new password afterwards?
Yes. Use Protect PDF to set a new password with AES-256 encryption.
This tool works in your browser: your files are processed on your device and are never uploaded. Check the result before you share it or delete the original.