Unlock PDF
Remove the password from a PDF you can already open — you must know the current one. It doesn't crack protected files.
Unlocking removes the encryption layer from a PDF you can already open, producing a plain file you can merge, compress or edit with other tools. It is the necessary first step whenever another tool refuses an encrypted document.
This is not password cracking. You supply the password; the file is decrypted with it and written back out without protection. A PDF whose password you do not know cannot be opened here, and that is deliberate.
How it works
- Open the protected PDF.
- Enter the password that opens it.
- The encryption and any permission restrictions are removed.
- Download the unprotected PDF.
What people use it for
- Removing the password from a bank statement so it can be archived and searched.
- Preparing an encrypted file for merging or compressing, which requires an unlocked document.
- Clearing print and copy restrictions on a document you own.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my file uploaded to a server?
- No. The file is opened by JavaScript and WebAssembly running inside your own browser tab. It is never uploaded, there is no server-side processing and nothing is stored — closing the tab discards everything.
- Can I unlock a PDF without knowing the password?
- No. The tool decrypts with the password you supply and has no way of recovering an unknown one. Only unlock documents you are entitled to open.
- The file opens without a password but I still can't copy text.
- It has an owner password with permission restrictions. Unlocking removes those restrictions; for that case you may not need to enter anything.
- Does unlocking change the content?
- No. Pages, text, images and annotations are copied through unchanged — only the encryption layer is dropped.
Related tools
Digital signature
Cryptographically sign a PDF with your P12/PFX certificate (PAdES) — the certificate never leaves your browser. Optional visible signature.
Protect PDF
Add a password (AES-256), remove a known password, or repair a damaged PDF — with optional fast web view.
Redact PDF
Black out sensitive content with permanent rectangles you draw on the page.
Redact by search
Type words or patterns and redact every match across the entire PDF.