How to unlock a PDF
- 1 Drop your PDF on the box, or click browse to choose it.
- 2 See what kind of protection the file has: a password to open it, or only restrictions.
- 3 If it needs a password, type it in.
- 4 Press Unlock and download to save a copy without the password or restrictions.
Passwords, restrictions and your rights
Unlock only files you own or are allowed to change. Once unlocked, you can combine statements with Merge PDF or edit them with Edit PDF. To lock the file again, use Protect PDF.
- Bank statement passwords are often a date of birth or account digits.
- Passwords are case-sensitive.
- Unlocking breaks digital certificate signatures.
Features
Removes the open password
Save a copy that opens without asking.
Lifts restrictions
Allows printing, copying and editing again.
Private
Decrypted on your device; nothing is uploaded.
When to use it
Bank and utility statements
Many banks send password-protected statements. Unlock them once for easier filing. To combine several, use Merge PDF.
Printing restricted files
Print a document you own that was locked against printing.
Editing your own files
Remove protection you added earlier so you can edit or sign the PDF. To add a password again later, use Protect PDF.
Archiving
Store records without passwords that could be forgotten years later.
Related PDF tasks
Frequently asked questions
Can this tool crack a password I do not know?
No. You need the password to remove it. The tool does not guess or break passwords, which also protects other people's documents.
What is the difference between an open password and restrictions?
An open password stops the file from opening at all. Restrictions let anyone open the file but block printing, copying or editing. The tool detects which one your PDF has.
Can I unlock a PDF that only has restrictions?
Yes. If the PDF opens without a password, the restrictions can be removed without entering anything.
Is it legal to unlock a PDF?
Unlocking files you own or have permission to use is fine. Do not remove protection from documents that belong to someone else without their permission.
Why does it say my password is wrong?
Passwords are case-sensitive, so check capital letters and Caps Lock. Bank statements often use a combination such as your date of birth or part of your account number, so check the bank's instructions.
Does unlocking change the content?
No. The text, images and layout stay the same. Only the encryption and restrictions are removed.
Will digital signatures stay valid?
Unlocking rewrites the file, which usually breaks existing digital signatures. Keep the original if the signature matters.
What happens to my password?
It is used once in your browser to decrypt the file and is never sent or stored anywhere.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The unlocking runs in your browser with a WebAssembly version of the open-source qpdf tool, so the document never leaves your device.
How this tool works. These PDF tools run entirely in your browser using two widely used open-source libraries: PDF.js, the PDF engine built into Firefox, to read and render pages, and pdf-lib to create and edit files. Each tool is tested with typed documents, phone scans and photo-heavy files before it goes live, and nothing you open is sent to a server.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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