Unlock PDF
Remove password protection from a PDF you know the password to.
Worth knowing before you startYou must know the password to unlock the file. This tool decrypts PDFs when you supply the correct credentials — it does not crack encryption or recover unknown passwords. Attempting to remove a password you do not have will not work here.
Choose PDF file
or drop it anywhere on this page
PDF
Processed on your device — never uploaded
How to unlock pdf
- Open the protected PDF.
- Enter the password — user or owner, whichever is set.
- Unlock and download the unprotected copy.
About this tool
The most common reason to unlock a PDF is removing the owner-password permission flags that prevent printing or copying — flags set by a scanner, a PDF printer driver, or a piece of software that applied them unnecessarily. Supplying the owner password here removes those restrictions and saves a clean copy.
This is plainly different from cracking. AES-256 encryption on a PDF with a strong unknown user password is not going to yield to a browser tool. What this handles is the case where you are the rightful owner of the document and have the password, and want a copy you can use without being prompted every time.
Questions
Can this crack a password I have forgotten?
No. This tool decrypts a file when you supply the correct password. It is not a brute-force cracker. PDF AES-256 encryption with a strong password is not breakable in any reasonable time with consumer hardware.
What if I only have the owner password but not the user password?
The owner password is enough to remove permission restrictions. If there is also a user password and you do not have it, you cannot open the file.
Where does the decryption happen?
In your browser. The password and the file never leave your device. If the PDF is sensitive enough to be password-protected, that matters.