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PDF Unlock

Remove password protection from a PDF you have the password for — right in your browser. Supports AES-256 and RC4 encryption, with both user and owner passwords accepted. Everything runs locally, so your document never leaves your device.

Upload & Unlock PDF

Drop a locked PDF and enter its password

Drop a locked PDF here or click to browse

PDF files only. Choose file

Result

Ready when you are

Your unlocked PDF will appear here

Upload a password-protected PDF, enter the password, and click Unlock PDF.

What does this PDF Unlock tool do?

This tool removes password protection and encryption from a PDF you have the password for — entirely in your browser. It decrypts the document, strips the encryption dictionary, and saves a clean, unencrypted copy that opens without any password in any PDF viewer.

The tool uses @pdfsmaller/pdf-decrypt, a purpose-built library that supports AES-256 (PDF 2.0 standard) and RC4 (legacy) encryption. It auto-detects the algorithm, accepts both user and owner passwords, and validates the password before decrypting — a wrong password throws a clear error instead of silently producing a corrupted file.

Everything runs locally. Your PDF never leaves your device — there is no upload, no server processing, and no data storage. Close the tab and it's gone.

How to remove a password from a PDF

  1. Upload your PDF: Drag and drop a password-protected PDF into the upload zone, or click to browse your device.
  2. Enter the password: Type the user or owner password for the PDF. The tool will verify it before decrypting.
  3. Click Unlock PDF: The tool decrypts the document and removes all encryption and permission flags.
  4. Download: Click Download Unlocked PDF to save the file. It will open without any password in any PDF viewer.

Why use this PDF Unlock tool?

100% private

Everything runs in your browser. Your PDF never leaves your device — no upload, no server, no logs, no tracking.

AES-256 & RC4

Supports the modern AES-256 standard (PDF 2.0) and legacy RC4 encryption. Auto-detects which one your file uses.

User & owner passwords

Both the user password (to open) and the owner password (to change permissions) are accepted.

Fast

No queue, no waiting. Decryption happens locally in seconds — even for large PDFs.

Works on mobile

Fully responsive. Unlock PDFs from a phone, tablet, or desktop — no app install required.

No watermark

Your unlocked PDF is clean — no watermarks, no branding, no limitations.

Encryption types you might encounter

PDFs use one of a few encryption standards, and knowing which one you're dealing with helps you understand what this tool can do.

EncryptionPDF versionCommon inSupported here
AES-256PDF 2.0 (rev 6)Modern PDFs from the last ~10 yearsYes — full support
RC4 128-bitPDF 1.4–1.7 (rev 3/4)Older documents from ~2005–2015Yes — full support
RC4 40-bitPDF 1.1–1.3 (rev 2)Very old documents, rarely seen todayYes — full support
AES-128PDF 1.6+ (rev 4)Some mid-2000s PDFsNot supported — clear error is shown
Public-key (certificate)PDF 1.5+Enterprise document workflowsNot supported

If your file uses an unsupported encryption method, the tool will say so clearly instead of producing a broken file. Try the file in an updated PDF reader first — sometimes the same PDF uses a mix of methods, and re-saving in a modern reader can change the encryption to one this tool supports.

When would you need to unlock a PDF?

  • Your own forgotten password: You locked a PDF months ago and can no longer remember the password.
  • Permission restrictions: A PDF you own blocks printing or copying, but you have the owner password and want to remove those limits.
  • Editing a document: You need to modify or fill in a PDF that was locked against editing.
  • Archiving: Remove encryption from old documents so they can be indexed and searched more easily.
  • Sharing internally: A document that requires a password for external use is annoying for internal team members.
  • Printing: Some locked PDFs block printing entirely, even for the person who owns the document.
  • Text extraction: Many PDFs that are encrypted block copy-paste, which stops you from extracting text until you unlock them first.
  • Automation: Scripts and tools that process PDFs can't easily read encrypted files — unlocking first is often a required step.

Tips for a smooth unlock experience

  • Try the user password first. If it doesn't work, try the owner password. Some PDFs accept only one of the two.
  • Watch for trailing spaces. Copy-pasting passwords often brings along a hidden space. Type it manually if you can.
  • Check for Caps Lock. Passwords are case-sensitive — a single uppercase letter can make the difference.
  • Keep the original file. Never overwrite a locked PDF with the unlocked version until you're sure the unlocked file opens correctly.
  • Lock your documents again after editing. If you removed protection to make edits, use the PDF Lock tool to re-encrypt the final file before sharing it.
  • Forget 100% of the password? There is no recovery. AES-256 is designed so that brute-forcing even a short password takes years. Keep passwords in a password manager or a safe note.
  • Test with a trusted viewer. After unlocking, open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader, macOS Preview, or your browser to confirm it opens and looks correct.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Completely free, no signup, no watermark, no hidden charges. Unlock as many PDFs as you want, for personal or commercial use.
No. The entire decryption happens in your browser using JavaScript and the Web Crypto API. Your PDF never leaves your device — there is no server processing, no logging, and no data storage. Close the tab and it's gone.
AES-256 (PDF 2.0, revision 6) and RC4 (40-bit and 128-bit legacy encryption). AES-128 and public-key encryption are not yet supported — you'll see a clear error if your PDF uses those.
The user password is required to open the PDF. The owner password controls permissions (printing, copying, modifying). Both are accepted by this tool — enter whichever one you have.
No. There is no legitimate way to bypass AES-256 or RC4 encryption without the password. This tool is designed for removing protection from PDFs you own and have the password for. If you have the password, this tool will remove the protection cleanly.
Yes. If a PDF opens without a password but blocks printing, copying, or editing, that's permission-restricted encryption. Enter the owner password (or leave it empty if the PDF doesn't require one) and the tool will remove those restrictions.
Yes. Once the page and the decryption library are loaded, the tool works without an internet connection. All processing happens locally in your browser.
Double-check for trailing spaces, Caps Lock, and any special characters. If you're sure the password is right but the tool still rejects it, the PDF may use a password encoding this tool doesn't handle. Try opening the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader to verify the password works there first.