Unlock a PDF
Remove password protection from a PDF you’re allowed to open, so you don’t have to type the password every time. Enter the password once and save an unlocked copy.
or drop a file here
One PDF, up to 250 MB.
Processed on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
How to unlock a PDF
Open the protected PDF
Choose the encrypted file. We’ll tell you what kind of protection it has.
Enter the password
Type the password you were given. It is checked on your device.
Unlock
Encryption is removed using qpdf, a long-established open-source library.
Download
Save the unlocked copy. It opens without a password.
Key features
Works with every standard
Handles 40-bit RC4 through to 256-bit AES encryption.
Restriction removal
For PDFs that open freely but block printing or copying, you can remove the restrictions after confirming you have the right to.
Clear feedback
You’ll be told plainly if a password is wrong or if a file isn’t protected at all.
Stays on your device
Neither the document nor the password is uploaded.
Use this tool responsibly
Unlock PDF removes protection from files you can already open: it needs the correct password. It doesn’t guess, crack or bypass passwords, and we can’t help if a password has been forgotten.
Only remove protection from documents you own or have permission to change. Once unlocked, a file can be opened by anyone who receives it, so consider adding a fresh password with Protect PDF before sharing it again.
Security and privacy
Unlock PDF runs entirely in your browser. Your file is processed in this tab’s memory and never uploaded to PDF365 or anyone else. When you close the tab or press “Start over”, the data is discarded.
Your password is used only inside this browser tab to decrypt the file, and is discarded when you leave the page.
Read more in our privacy policy.
Questions about Unlock PDF
I forgot the password. Can you recover it?
No. We don’t store passwords and we don’t attempt to crack them. Ask the person who sent you the document.
Why does my PDF open without a password but still say it’s protected?
It has an owner password that restricts actions like printing or editing, without restricting opening. You can remove those restrictions if you have the right to.
Why do other PDF365 tools ask me to unlock first?
Encrypted PDFs can’t be safely edited without decrypting them. Unlock the file here, then use the other tool on the unlocked copy.