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Unlock a PDF: remove a password you know

Remove the password from a PDF when you know it, so you can open, print and work with the file without typing it each time.

  • Runs on our secure server
  • Deleted within 1 hour
  • Processed in London
  • Up to 25 MB per file
or drop files here

Up to 25 MB per file · 1 file at a time on your plan

How it works

  1. Add your PDF

    Click Choose file or drag the protected PDF onto the page.

  2. Enter the password

    Type the password that opens the file. This tool cannot work without it.

  3. Unlock and download

    Press Unlock and save the file, named with -unlocked added. It now opens without a password.

Pro

Do more with Pro

  • No ads, anywhere
  • Files up to 200 MB
  • 50 files at once
  • Saved workflows
Try Pro free for 14 daysThen £7.99 a month. Cancel any time.

About unlocking PDFs

Banks, payroll providers and utility companies often send password-protected PDFs, which is sensible in transit but inconvenient once the file is safely on your device. Typing the password every time gets tedious, and protected files cannot be used with most other tools, such as Merge or Compress. Unlock PDF removes the protection using the password you type, and gives you an ordinary copy of the file. It also removes print, copy and edit restrictions so you can work with the content. This tool does not guess, crack or recover passwords, and never will: if you do not know the password, ask the person who sent the file. A wrong password simply returns an error, and you can try again. Only unlock files that you are entitled to use, such as your own statements or documents shared with you. Once unlocked, the file is no longer protected, so store it somewhere safe, and use Protect PDF if you need to add a new password before sharing it.

Limits: one PDF per task, up to 25 MB with a free account, 200 MB on Pro and 500 MB on Business, with up to 2,000 pages. A free account includes 10 server tasks a day.

Before you sign in, files can be up to 25 MB and you can run 10 server tasks a day. A free account raises this to 25 MB and 10 tasks a day.

Privacy: your file is uploaded over an encrypted connection to our UK servers, processed automatically with no person opening it, and deleted within 2 hours (1 hour on Free), or straight away with Delete now. Your password is used only for this job.

How to use the PDF tools: Step-by-step help with every tool, limits and your files.

Unlock PDF: frequently asked questions

Can you unlock a PDF if I have forgotten the password?

No. Unlock PDF only works with the correct password and never tries to guess it. Ask the sender for the password or a new copy.

Why do other tools tell me to unlock my file first?

A PDF that needs a password to open cannot be read without it. Unlock it here, then use the other tool on the unlocked copy.

Does unlocking remove printing and copying restrictions?

Yes. The unlocked copy has no password and no restrictions.

Is the original file changed?

No. You download a new unlocked copy; the protected original on your device stays as it was.

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