When do you need to unlock a PDF?
When you have a protected file and know its password, but the password gets in the way: a bank statement that arrives locked with part of your card number and has to be uploaded to a portal that rejects protected files, a certificate an office sent you with a password that you now need to merge into an application file, or a document you protected yourself and want an open copy of for your archive. Some files open without a password but block printing or copying; the tool removes those restrictions too.
Who this tool is for, and what it doesn't do
The tool is meant for removing a password you know from a file you own or are authorized to use. It does not crack or guess unknown passwords and doesn't try combinations: it requires the correct password to open any file protected with an open password. Our Terms of Use say the same.
How it works
- File with an open password: it is decrypted with the password you type. A wrong one shows "Incorrect password"; an empty field shows "Please enter the password".
- File that opens freely but is restricted (no printing or copying): leave the field empty and the restrictions are removed.
- File that isn't protected at all: the tool tells you so and produces nothing.
Decryption uses the @cantoo build of pdf-lib, which handles the common encryption types (RC4 and AES). Text, fonts and images are kept as they are, so text stays selectable and searchable. If the tool meets unusual encryption the library can't handle, it opens the file with PDF.js and rebuilds each page as an image instead, and the result message says so plainly.
How to unlock a PDF
- 1Choose the protected PDF or drag it onto the upload box.
- 2Type the password in the "Document Open Password" field. Leave it empty if the file opens without one and only blocks printing or copying.
- 3Click "Unlock PDF Now".
- 4Read the result message, then click "Download Unlocked PDF". The file is saved as
unlocked_followed by your original file name.
If you forgot the password
There is no recovery option here, and we never hold a copy of your passwords. Ask whoever sent the file: banks and offices usually state the rule they use, such as your date of birth or part of an ID number, or they can send a new copy. If you made the file yourself, look for the original unprotected version.
Limitations
- One file at a time.
- The decryption library is downloaded when you click the button, so you need a connection at that moment.
- With unsupported encryption, pages become images: text can't be selected and the file may get larger.
- To set a new password afterwards, use Protect PDF.
Where is the processing done?
Your password and your file stay on your device. Decryption runs inside the browser itself, and neither one reaches us. More on that in how browser-based PDF processing works.
Unlock PDF: frequently asked questions
Can the tool open a file whose password I don't know?
No. It doesn't guess passwords or try to break them. Without the correct password the file stays closed.
Can I still copy text after unlocking?
Yes in normal cases, because the content is kept as it was. The exception is unsupported encryption, and then the result message warns you that the pages became images.
My file opens but won't print. What do I type in the field?
Nothing. Leave it empty and click the button; printing and copying restrictions are removed.
It says my file isn't protected. Why?
The file carries no encryption, so there's nothing to remove. If another program rejects it, the cause is something else; you can inspect it with PDF Info.