Unlock PDF
Unlock PDF decrypts a password-protected PDF and removes its permission restrictions locally in your browser. Enter the password that opens the document, or leave it empty if the PDF already opens without one. Text and page objects are preserved rather than rasterised.
Drop a restricted PDF here
or drop anywhere on this page · Choose a file · 100 MB
Accepted: PDF
How does Unlock PDF work?
This tool supports the standard PDF password security handler: RC4, AES-128 and AES-256 encryption. The document is decrypted in a background worker, then rewritten without encryption. Certificate-based encryption is not supported.
Opening passwords and owner restrictions
A PDF can use an opening password and an owner password. The owner password controls permissions such as printing, copying and editing. A restrictions-only document can still have encrypted content: it opens because its opening password is empty. Its streams must be decrypted before restrictions can be removed safely.
If the PDF needs a password to open, supply that password or its owner password. A missing or incorrect password produces an error and no downloadable result. For a document that opens without a password, leave the field empty.
Decryption with the password you supply
The tool authenticates the supplied password and decrypts the original objects. It does not try a password dictionary or upload the document. Passwords are not written to browser storage, and the password field is cleared when processing starts.
If you have lost an opening password, ask the document's creator for access or an unprotected copy. Unsupported or damaged encryption is reported instead of returning a file with unreadable encrypted content.
What “unlocked” means here
The output has no active encryption dictionary. Pages are not rasterised: selectable text, images and page sizes remain PDF objects. Serialisation changes the file bytes and may change its size. A second PDF parser checks that the result is unencrypted and has the same page count before a download is offered.
Documents you may modify
Use this tool for documents you own or are permitted to modify. Rewriting a PDF invalidates existing digital signatures. Keep the original signed file if its signature matters.
Input
statement.pdf owner password set: no copying, no printing
Output
unlocked.pdf no encryption dictionary, no permissions entry, selectable text and page sizes preserved
What options and edge cases does Unlock PDF support?
| Parameter | Type | Default | Behaviour & edge cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner password | restrictions | removed | Owner permissions can restrict printing, copying and editing. A document that opens with an empty user password can still contain encrypted streams; these are decrypted before saving. |
| User password | encryption | needs the password | Enter a valid opening or owner password. An incorrect or missing required password produces an error and no result. |
| Password cracking | not implemented | never | Only the supplied password is tried. No password guessing or dictionary attack runs. |
| Page content | unchanged | — | Pages are not rasterised. Text remains selectable, images retain their resolution and page sizes are preserved. File bytes and size can change. |
| Output encryption | none | — | The result is verified as unencrypted with a second PDF parser before a download is offered. |
| Digital signatures | invalidated | — | Rewriting the document invalidates existing digital signatures. Keep the original if the signature matters. |
| Upload | never | enforced by CSP | The file and password are processed in the browser worker. They are not uploaded or saved to browser storage. |
Frequently asked questions
Can you remove a password I do not know?
This tool does not guess passwords. Supply a valid opening or owner password for a password-protected PDF. If the document already opens without a password, leave the field empty. For a lost opening password, ask the creator for access or an unprotected copy.
Why did my PDF open fine but refuse to let me print it?
The owner settings restrict printing or copying. Such a PDF can still use encryption with an empty opening password. The tool authenticates that empty password, decrypts its content and writes an unencrypted copy without those restrictions.
Is removing restrictions legal?
Use it for documents you own or have permission to modify. A working password does not by itself establish permission to redistribute or change someone else's document.
Will unlocking change the document?
The encryption and permission restrictions are removed without rasterising pages. Text remains selectable and page sizes are preserved. Rewriting changes the bytes and can change the file size; existing digital signatures become invalid.
Why not just print to PDF to remove restrictions?
Printing to PDF can change page content and discard forms, links or accessibility structure, depending on the print driver. This tool decrypts and rewrites the document objects directly, without converting the pages to images.
Is my document uploaded?
No. Decryption runs in a background worker in your browser. The file and password are not sent to a server or saved to browser storage. The page loads its processing libraries from the same site when needed.