Unlock PDF: Remove a known password or restrictions from a PDF. Input: PDF files and values you enter. Output: Results shown on the page and a downloaded file. Privacy: Runs in your browser: inputs and files stay on your device and are not uploaded.
How to remove a password from a PDF
- Drop the protected PDF onto the box or tap to choose it. The page checks whether it needs a password to open or only has restrictions.
- Type the password you use to open it. If the PDF opens without a password but blocks printing, copying or editing, leave the box blank.
- Press Unlock PDF and download the unprotected copy. Your original file is not changed.
Why unlock a PDF?
Banks, payroll systems, schools and government sites often send statements, payslips and reports protected with a password such as your date of birth. That is sensible for email, but annoying when you need to merge the file with others, upload it to an accounting or visa portal that rejects protected files, print it, or archive it in a document manager. Unlocking saves a normal copy so every tool can open it.
The file is decrypted with qpdf, a long-established open-source PDF tool, running inside your browser, so neither the document nor the password is uploaded. This tool needs the password: it does not guess or crack passwords. Only unlock documents that you own or have permission to use, and keep the unprotected copy somewhere safe.
Example: a password-protected report
A 10-page report protected with a password and AES-256 encryption (685 KB) was unlocked in about a third of a second in Chrome on a laptop. The copy was no longer encrypted, and its text was identical to the original. A wrong password gave a clear message: that the password is not correct, and to check capital letters.
How it compares with free PDF sites
| This tool | iLovePDF (free) | Sejda (free) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| File size | Your device memory | 100 MB | 50 MB, 200 pages |
| Tasks per day | No limit | Not stated | 3 |
Free-plan limits as published by each service (checked 21 October 2026): iLovePDF pricing, Sejda pricing. They change often; the paid plans lift them.
FAQ
Can it unlock a PDF without the password?
Not if the PDF needs a password to open: that content is encrypted, and this tool does not crack passwords. If the PDF opens freely and only blocks printing or copying, it can remove those restrictions.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. It is decrypted on your device; the qpdf engine comes from this site.
Will the unlocked PDF look the same?
Yes. Pages, text, images, links and form fields are kept exactly; only the encryption is removed.
Why does it say my password is wrong?
PDF passwords are case-sensitive. Check capital letters and the keyboard layout, and that you are not entering the owner password for a different file.
How do I remove a password from a PDF?
Open the PDF here, type the password you use to open it and press Unlock PDF. You get a copy that opens without a password. You do need to know the password.