A password-protected PDF is a nuisance if you open it every day on your own computer. If you know the password, you can save a copy that opens without one.
This only works when you know the password. It can't crack or guess a password, and you should only unlock documents you own or have permission to change.
Step by step
- Open the Unlock PDF tool and choose the protected file.
- Enter the password you normally use to open it.
- Click Unlock PDF. If the password is right, a decrypted copy downloads. If not, you'll see an error and can try again.
Privacy
The work happens in your browser using a WebAssembly version of the open-source qpdf program. Your file and your password are not sent anywhere.
If it doesn't work
- Check for typos and the caps lock key. PDF passwords are case-sensitive.
- A very old or unusual encryption method might not be supported.
- If you forgot the password, there is no legitimate way to recover it from the file.
Want to protect a file instead?
The Protect PDF tool does the opposite: it locks a PDF with a password using AES-256 encryption.