Unlock PDF (Remove Password)
Remove a password or restrictions from a PDF.
Click to upload or drag & drop
Select a locked PDF file
How to use the Unlock PDF (Remove Password)
- 1Upload your PDF
Drag and drop or click to select the locked PDF.
- 2Enter the password
Type the PDF's current password, or leave it blank if it only has restrictions.
- 3Unlock
Click Unlock PDF and our server removes the protection with qpdf.
- 4Download
The unlocked PDF downloads automatically.
Remove a password from a PDF online
This tool removes a known password and permission restrictions from a PDF so it opens and prints freely. Enter the current password (or leave it blank if the PDF only has restrictions) and we decrypt it with qpdf on our server.
When to use it
- Remove a password you know from your own PDF.
- Strip printing and copying restrictions from a document.
- Save an unprotected copy so you don't retype the password each time.
Private & secure
The password is removed from your PDF with qpdf on our server, then the open file is returned. Both the PDF and password travel encrypted, are processed in an isolated workspace, and are deleted the moment the unlocked file is returned — never stored or logged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know the password?
Yes. This tool only removes a password you already know — it does not crack or bypass unknown passwords. Use it on your own documents.
What if the PDF only blocks printing or copying?
Leave the password field blank. The tool will strip the owner restrictions so the PDF can be printed and copied normally.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
Yes. Removing a known password uses qpdf on the server, so the PDF is uploaded briefly along with the password you supply. Both are isolated for that request and erased once the unlocked file is sent.
Is it free? Is there a watermark or size limit?
Yes — free, no sign-up, and no watermark. PDFs up to 100 MB each can be unlocked.