To remove a password from a PDF, select Select PDF, type the current password when the tool asks for it, and select Unlock PDF. A copy that opens without a password downloads straight away. The tool only works with a password you already know; it doesn't guess or crack passwords. Pages in the new copy are saved as images.
How to unlock a PDF
- Add the PDF. Drag it onto the drop area or select Select PDF.
- Enter the password. If the file needs one to open, a dialog asks for the Current PDF Password. Type it exactly, including any spaces. A wrong password shows a message and lets you try again.
- Check the settings. Leave Unlock Method on Auto (Best Result). Pick an Output Quality and Render Scale, and type a Page Range if you only need some pages.
- Save the copy. Select Unlock PDF. The new file downloads as
yourfile-unlocked.pdfand opens without asking for a password.
Can you unlock a PDF without the password?
No. This tool removes protection you already have the right to remove. You type the password, the PDF is decrypted in your browser with the PDF.js library, and a new copy is saved without any encryption. It does not try to guess, crack or bypass a password you don't know.
Use it on your own files, or on files the owner has given you the password for, such as a bank statement or a payslip. Removing protection from someone else's document without permission can break the terms it was shared under.
Open password vs permission restrictions
| Type of protection | What you see | What this tool does |
|---|---|---|
| Open (user) password | A password prompt before the PDF opens | Asks for the password, then saves a copy without one |
| Permission restrictions only | The PDF opens, but printing, copying or editing is blocked | Opens it without asking, and the saved copy has no restrictions |
| No protection | Opens normally | Copies the pages as they are |
The status card shows which case you have: Password verified, Locked PDF or Open PDF. If you typed the wrong password earlier, select Re-enter Password instead of loading the file again.
What the unprotected copy looks like
The browser library this tool uses to copy real PDF pages can't read encrypted files. So for any protected PDF, Auto mode renders each page as a JPEG image and saves it on a page the same size and orientation as the original. That has a few effects:
- Text in the new copy can't be selected or searched, and links and form fields are gone.
- The file is often larger than the original, because every page is now a picture.
- Small print can look soft. Choose Ultra under Output Quality and 1.5x under Render Scale for sharper pages, at the cost of a larger file.
The Keep Real PDF Pages method only succeeds on files with no encryption, so on a protected PDF it stops with an error. If you need real, selectable text, open the file in Adobe Acrobat or the app that created it with the owner password and save it without security. To pull the words out of the copy you make here, you'd need OCR; for a PDF that still has its text layer, use the PDF to text converter.
Forgot the password?
This tool can't help with that, and neither can ToolzyLab. Ask the person or company that sent the file to send it again or tell you the password. Banks and employers often explain in the covering email what the password is made from, such as part of your date of birth or account number.
Once you have an unprotected copy, keep it somewhere safe. If you need to share it again with protection, the PDF password protector adds a new password in a few seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Can this tool remove a PDF password I don't know?
No. You need to type the correct password. The tool decrypts the file with it and saves an unprotected copy; it doesn't guess or crack passwords.
How do I unlock a password protected PDF for free?
Load the PDF on this page, type the password when asked and select Unlock PDF to save the copy. It's free and needs no account.
Does it remove print and copy restrictions?
Yes. A PDF with only permission restrictions opens without a password here, and the copy you save has no restrictions. Its pages are images, though, so the text can't be selected.
Why can't I select text in the unprotected PDF?
Protected PDFs are rebuilt from page images, because the library that copies real pages can't read encrypted files. Use the original app or Adobe Acrobat if you need live text.
Is my password sent to a server?
No. The password and the PDF stay in your browser. Decryption and the new file are both handled on your device.
Can I save only some pages?
Yes. Type a Page Range such as 1-3,6, or set Unlock Mode to Export Previewed Pages Only to save just the pages shown in the preview.