Unlock PDF saves a copy of a password-protected PDF that opens without the password. You type the password once, and the new copy no longer asks for it. It also removes printing, copying and editing restrictions from PDFs that open without a password. It works in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.
You need to know the password. This tool cannot crack, guess or recover a forgotten password. Only unlock PDFs that you own or are allowed to open.
How to remove a password from a PDF
- Click Choose a PDF or drop a PDF onto the page.
- If the file is protected, a Password box appears. Type the password and click Open.
- When you see “Password accepted”, click Save unlocked PDF.
- The copy is saved with
-unlockedadded to its name, for examplestatement-unlocked.pdf. Your original file stays as it was.
If the PDF opens without a password, the tool tells you so. Saving it then removes any restrictions on printing, copying or editing.
Two kinds of PDF protection
| Protection | What it does | What Unlock PDF does |
|---|---|---|
| Open password (user password) | You must type a password to see the file | Removes it, once you type the correct password |
| Restrictions (owner password) | The file opens, but printing, copying or editing is blocked | Removes the restrictions; no password needed |
When unlocking helps
- Bank statements, payslips and bills that you need to send on to an accountant, a landlord or a portal that rejects protected files.
- Merging or editing. Many tools, including Merge PDF, Rotate PDF and Watermark PDF, cannot work on a locked file. Unlock it first, then continue.
Anyone who gets the unlocked copy can open it, so keep it safe and delete it when you no longer need it.
Common problems
- “That password is not correct. Try again.”: check for capital letters and spaces. Bank statements often use a mix such as part of your name and your date of birth, as described in the email or letter that came with them.
- The file is large: unlocking does not shrink it. Use Compress PDF on the unlocked copy.
Related tools
If you need to share a PDF without some of its content, Redact PDF removes names, numbers and pictures for good. For a new password for the file itself or an account, use the Password Generator.
Private by design
All work happens on your device. Your PDFs are never sent to a server. You can check this yourself: see how it works.