Unlock PDF

How it works

The password you enter is checked directly against the PDF's own encryption data, entirely in your browser. If it matches, the file's content is decrypted and saved again without the encryption — nothing is sent to a server, and a wrong password is simply rejected, never guessed or bypassed.

Password encryption vs. permission restrictions

Some PDFs use "owner" permissions to discourage printing or copying without requiring a password to open the file at all. Those files still carry encryption data, so this tool lists them as encrypted and asks for a password. It accepts either the opening (user) password or the owner password. Leave the password box blank to try an empty password, which is what a file with restrictions but no opening password uses.

What happens in an unlock

• The tool reads the file's security data and shows which scheme it uses, such as AES-256 or RC4, before asking for the password.
• A wrong password is rejected with a message, and you can try again without reloading.
• A correct password produces unlocked.pdf, which contains the same pages without the encryption. Checking it again reports that it isn't encrypted.
• Supported schemes are AES-256 and RC4 (40-bit and 128-bit). PDFs using AES-128, which some older programs write, are not supported yet. The tool recognizes them as soon as you choose the file and says so, rather than showing a generic error.
• The file must be a PDF of up to 100 MB, and nothing is uploaded.

Use it responsibly

Use the tool for files you own or are entitled to open, for example removing a password you set yourself so a document opens without a prompt. It does not guess, crack or bypass anything, so a document whose password has been lost cannot be opened here. Keep the unlocked copy somewhere safe, because anyone who gets it can read it without a password.