Unlock PDF

Got a PDF that asks for a password every time you open it? Type that password once and download a copy that opens freely — the document never leaves your device.

Files are never uploaded

How to use it

Add the locked PDF

Drop the password-protected file onto the box above, or click to browse. This tool removes a password you already know; it does not try to guess one.

Type the open password

Enter the password the file asks for when you open it. It is used inside your browser and is never sent anywhere.

Unlock the file

Press Unlock PDF. The password is checked against the document, and the copy is rebuilt with the encryption removed.

Check what comes out

The download opens with no password prompt. Pages are copied across rather than re-rendered, so text stays selectable and nothing is re-compressed.

Download the copy

Save the unlocked file. Your original locked document is untouched, so you can keep it if you still need the password for something else.

Common issues

A forgotten password cannot be removed

This tool applies a password you supply; it does not break one. If the password is genuinely lost, the document cannot be opened here.

Unlocking also clears printing and copying restrictions

The saved copy has no restrictions at all. If you only wanted to lift one restriction, protect the file again afterwards with Protect PDF and the settings you want.

The original file is not changed

Only the downloaded copy is unlocked. If a reader still asks for a password you are opening the original document, not the new one.

Some files are not locked by a password at all

A few documents use certificate-based security instead. Those cannot be unlocked by typing a password, and the tool reports that the file could not be opened.

Frequently asked questions

Can it crack a password I do not know?

No. It removes a password you already know — you have to type it in. It is not a password cracker, and it cannot recover a password you have forgotten.

Is my password sent to a server?

No. The document and the password are handled entirely inside your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and the password is not stored anywhere.

Does unlocking reduce the quality?

No. Encrypted pages are decrypted and copied as they are, so text, images and vector art are unchanged and nothing is re-compressed.

What is the difference between an open password and a permissions password?

An open password is what stops the file being opened at all; a permissions (owner) password controls printing, copying and editing. Removing the encryption clears both, so the copy you download is fully free to use.

My PDF opens without a password but will not let me print or copy. Can this help?

Yes. Files like that are encrypted with an empty open password and a separate owner password. Unlocking removes the encryption completely, so the copy has no restrictions left.

What if I type the wrong password?

The tool tells you the password did not work and stops. Nothing is downloaded, so you can simply try again.

Can I unlock several files at once?

One file per run. Each document needs its own correct password, so unlocking is done one at a time.

Will the unlocked copy open everywhere?

Yes. The result is an ordinary unencrypted PDF, so it opens in any reader on any system without asking for a password.

I have forgotten the password. What now?

There is nothing this tool can do — it does not attempt to guess or brute-force a password. You would need the password from whoever created the file.

Related tools

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About this page. Written and maintained by the AI-Mind team. Last reviewed 11 October 2026. This tool runs entirely in your browser. Found an error or have a suggestion? Use the feedback form above or email [email protected].