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Unlock PDF — free online tool
Remove the password from a PDF you have the password for, so you can open it without typing it every time, merge it with other files, or send it to someone who does not need the protection. Enter the current password once and the tool writes an unencrypted copy. It runs entirely in your browser — your file never leaves your device, there is nothing to install, and it is free with no sign-up. The decryption happens in your browser, so the protected file and its password are never uploaded. It will not — and cannot — remove a password you do not know.
- Produces a permanent unlocked copy; the protected original is untouched
- Works with PDFs encrypted by Acrobat, Word, banking portals and payroll systems
- Once unlocked, the file can be merged, split, compressed or edited with the other tools
- Runs on your device with the qpdf engine — nothing is transmitted
- Free and instant for files up to 50 MB
How to unlock pdf
- 1Upload the password-protected PDF.
- 2Enter its current password exactly — passwords are case-sensitive.
- 3Click Unlock PDF.
- 4Download the unlocked copy.
- 5Store it as carefully as the original: it now opens for anyone who has the file.
Frequently asked questions
Can this tool crack or recover a forgotten password?
No. It removes protection only when given the correct password. Modern PDF encryption cannot be broken in a browser or, for a strong password, at all. If you have lost the password, contact whoever issued the document — a bank or payroll provider can reissue it.
My PDF opens without a password but will not let me print or copy. Will this help?
Yes. Files with only owner restrictions (no open password) can be unlocked by entering the owner password if you know it. Many such files were created by systems that set a blank or default owner password; try leaving the field empty first if you are the document's owner.
Is it legal to remove a PDF password?
Removing protection from a document you own or are authorised to access — your own payslip, a contract sent to you — is normal use. Circumventing protection on a document you are not entitled to open may breach copyright or contract law; this tool is for files that are yours to unlock.
Does unlocking change the content or quality?
No. Decryption restores the exact original content streams; text, images, links and form fields are identical to what the author created. Only the encryption wrapper is removed.
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