How to Remove a Password From a PDF
To remove a password from a PDF, open it with the password once and save a copy without encryption. PDFDEN's free PDF password remover does that in your browser. It works when you know the password, or when the file only restricts printing or copying.
Unlock PDF: Remove a PDF password you know. Free, and your file never leaves your device.
Open Unlock PDFSteps
Open Unlock PDF and drop in the protected PDF.
Type the open password if the file asks for one. Files that only block printing, copying or editing need no password.
Run the unlock. The encryption is removed locally, in your browser.
Download the unlocked PDF. It opens without a password from now on.
Open password or permissions password?
PDFs can carry two kinds of protection.
An open password stops anyone from viewing the file. You need it to unlock the PDF, and PDFDEN will ask for it.
A permissions password lets anyone read the file but blocks printing, copying text or editing. These files can be unlocked without typing anything, because the content is readable already.
PDFDEN does not crack or guess unknown passwords. If you forgot the open password, ask whoever sent the file for it or for an unprotected copy.
Remove password protection from a PDF in Chrome
There is a no-install trick that works in Chrome and Edge. Open the PDF in the browser, type the password, press Ctrl+P (Command+P on a Mac) and choose "Save as PDF" as the printer. The saved copy has no password.
It has limits. It fails if the file blocks printing, and printing rebuilds the document, which can drop links, bookmarks and form fields. The unlock tool removes the encryption and keeps the rest of the file as it was.
Unlock PDF: Remove a PDF password you know. Free, and your file never leaves your device.
Open Unlock PDFHow to remove a PDF password on a Mac
Preview can save an unlocked copy. Open the PDF, enter the password, then choose File > Export as PDF and save under a new name. Check the export options before saving, since Preview can also re-apply encryption there. Open the new copy to confirm it no longer asks for a password.
Preview only unlocks a file you can open. If it asks for a password you don't have, no menu option skips it.
Put a password back on later
Unlocking is often a step in a longer job, like merging a protected statement with other files or editing a form. Once you are done, lock the finished file again with Protect PDF, which applies AES-256 encryption. The guide on how to password protect a PDF covers the options, including blocking printing and copying.
Keep the unlocked copy only as long as you need it. An unprotected file forwarded by mistake is exposed to anyone who receives it.
Troubleshooting: when a PDF will not unlock
Wrong password. PDF passwords are case-sensitive. Check Caps Lock, and watch for letters that look alike, such as a capital I and a lowercase l. Bank and payroll statements often use a pattern like part of your name plus a date of birth, spelled out in the email that came with the file.
The file opens but will not save. Some files are both encrypted and damaged. Unlock first, then run the result through Repair PDF.
It worked, but the file is huge. Unlocking does not change the content, so the size stays about the same. Shrink it with Compress PDF if needed.