Remove a password from a PDF
Tired of typing the same password every time you open a file? Enter it once here and download a copy that opens without it.
Files are processed on our server and deleted automatically after one hour.
When this is useful
Banks, payroll systems, insurers and phone companies often email documents as password-protected PDFs. That's sensible for sending, but once the file is on your own computer, typing the password every time gets old fast. It also gets in the way when you need to upload the file somewhere: many upload forms reject encrypted PDFs, and tools like merge or compress can't open them.
Removing the password gives you a normal PDF with the same pages, text and quality. Only the lock is gone.
You need to know the password
This tool removes a password you already have. It does not guess or crack passwords. If you've lost the password to your own document, the guide to lost PDF passwords covers the legitimate options, like asking the sender for a new copy.
Is it safe?
The file is uploaded over an encrypted connection, the password is used once to open it, and both the original and the unlocked copy are deleted from the server after an hour. The password isn't stored. Keep in mind that the unlocked copy can be opened by anyone who gets it, so store it somewhere private.
Protecting a file instead?
To add a password to a PDF before sending it, use Password protect PDF.
How it works
Choose the locked PDF
Drop the file into the box above.
Enter its password
Type the password you normally use to open it.
Download the unlocked copy
The new file opens without asking for a password.
Frequently asked questions
Can you unlock a PDF if I forgot the password?
No. The tool needs the correct password. It removes protection you can already open, it doesn't break it.
Does removing the password change the document?
No. Pages, text, images and quality stay the same. Only the encryption is removed.
It says the password is wrong, but I'm sure it's right.
Passwords are case-sensitive, and some keyboards switch language without you noticing. Try typing it in a text editor first and pasting it in.
Why can't other tools open my file?
Encrypted PDFs can't be merged, compressed or converted until the password is removed. Unlock it here first, then use the other tool.
Guides
How to Combine Password-Protected Payslips into One PDF
Unlock and merge several payslips into a single PDF for a mortgage, loan or rental application, step by step.
Password-Protected PDF: What to Do When You've Lost the Password
What to do when you've lost the password to your own PDF file — legitimate options only.