How to Remove a Password from a PDF (When You Know It)
Published by PDFToolz · Updated · Technical references listed below
To remove a password from a PDF, open it with the password, then save a copy without encryption. In PDFToolz Unlock PDF, add the file, type the password and download the unlocked copy. Chrome's Save as PDF, Preview on a Mac and Adobe Acrobat's security settings can do the same job. You must know the password. A forgotten open password can't be removed, only typed.
This guide explains the two kinds of PDF password, walks through each method step by step, compares what each one keeps or loses, and explains why no honest tool can strip an open password you don't know.
Open passwords and permissions passwords
A PDF can carry two different passwords, and the way you remove each one differs. The open password, also called the user password, is the one you type before the file shows anything. The permissions password, also called the owner password, lets the file open freely but tells PDF apps to block printing, copying or editing.
A file can have either one or both. If a password box appears the moment you open the PDF, it has an open password. If the file opens but the print or copy commands are greyed out, it only has a permissions password.
| Password | What it does | What you need to remove it |
|---|---|---|
| Open (user) password | Encrypts the content. Nothing shows until it is typed | The password itself |
| Permissions (owner) password | File opens, but printing, copying or editing is blocked | Depends on the app. Acrobat asks for it, PDFToolz Unlock PDF does not |
How to remove a PDF password with PDFToolz
PDFToolz Unlock PDF removes the encryption with qpdf compiled to WebAssembly. It runs in your browser, so the PDF and the password you type are never uploaded. It is free and needs no account.
The output keeps the original pages as they are. Nothing is re-rendered, so text stays selectable, images keep their resolution, and links and form fields stay in place.
- Open Unlock PDF and select the locked file.
- If the PDF asks for a password to open, type it in the Current password box. Spaces and capital letters count.
- If it opens freely but blocks printing or copying, leave the box empty.
- Press Unlock PDF. The result says Password removed or Restrictions removed.
- Download the copy ending in -unlocked.pdf. It opens with no prompt and no limits. Your original stays as it was.
Remove a PDF password with Chrome's Save as PDF
Chrome can open a protected PDF and print it to a new, unencrypted PDF. This works on Windows, Mac, Linux and ChromeOS with nothing to install.
There are two catches. Chrome's PDF viewer honours a no-printing restriction, so if the file blocks printing, this method won't work. Printing also rebuilds the file, so bookmarks, links and fillable form fields are often lost.
- Drag the PDF into a Chrome window and type the password when asked.
- Press Ctrl+P on Windows and Linux, or Cmd+P on a Mac.
- Set Destination to Save as PDF.
- Click Save and pick a new file name. The saved copy opens without a password.
Remove a PDF password on Mac with Preview
Preview, the PDF app built into macOS, changes a PDF's password settings with File > Edit Permissions. Work on a copy so the protected original stays safe.
- Open the PDF in Preview and type the password.
- Choose File > Edit Permissions.
- Deselect Require Password To Open Document to drop the open password.
- To lift restrictions, select the checkbox next to each action, such as printing, that should no longer need the owner password. Preview may ask for the owner password first.
- Click Apply, then close and reopen the file to check it opens with no prompt.
Remove password security in Adobe Acrobat
Removing a password permanently needs a paid Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Standard subscription, or a free trial. The free Acrobat Reader only opens protected files. It can't remove the password.
Unlike PDFToolz, Acrobat asks for the permissions password before it removes restrictions. Files protected with a server-based security policy can only be changed by the policy author or a server administrator.
- Open the PDF in Acrobat and type the password.
- Select All tools > Protect a PDF, then select Set security properties in the left pane.
- In the window that opens, select the Security tab, then Change settings.
- For an open password, deselect Require a password to open the document.
- For a permissions password, deselect Restrict editing and printing of the document, and type that password if prompted.
- Select OK, confirm the change, then save the PDF to apply it.
Which method to use
All four methods need the open password if the file has one. They differ in cost, in what survives, and in whether you also need the permissions password.
| Method | Cost | Keeps links and form fields | Lifts restrictions without the owner password |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDFToolz Unlock PDF | Free, in any browser | Yes | Yes |
| Chrome Save as PDF | Free | Often lost | No. Printing must be allowed |
| Mac Preview | Free, Mac only | Usually | May ask for it |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro or Standard | Paid subscription | Yes | No. Asks for it |
Why a forgotten open password can't be removed
An open password isn't a lock sitting in front of readable content. The text and images themselves are encrypted, and the key that decrypts them can only be worked out from the password. Without it, the file holds scrambled bytes, so there is no setting to switch off and nothing for a tool to 'remove'.
Modern PDFs use AES encryption with 128-bit or 256-bit keys, and PDF 2.0 standardised AES-256. Trying every possible key isn't practical. Services that claim to unlock a PDF without its password are guessing passwords, which only works when the password is weak. This guide doesn't cover that.
A permissions password is different. The content can be decrypted without it, and the restrictions are flags that PDF apps choose to honour. That is why some tools lift them without the owner password. Do this only on files you own or are allowed to use freely. The qpdf documentation itself says its decrypt option isn't meant for bypassing restrictions placed on files by their producers.
- Ask the sender for the password or an unprotected copy.
- Bank, payroll and utility statements often use a set format, such as part of your date of birth or account number. Check the email or letter that came with the file.
- Look for an unprotected copy in the account or portal you downloaded it from.
After you remove the password
An unlocked PDF can be read by anyone who gets hold of it. Keep the unlocked copy somewhere private and delete stray copies from your Downloads folder once you're done.
- Keep the protected original in case you need it again.
- To send the file on, protect it again with PDFToolz Protect PDF and a password of your own, and share the password by a different channel.
- If an unlocked file won't open or looks damaged, run it through Repair PDF.
Key takeaways
- ✓To remove a password from a PDF, open it with the password and save a copy without encryption.
- ✓An open password encrypts the content. A permissions password only blocks printing, copying or editing.
- ✓PDFToolz Unlock PDF removes both in your browser without uploading the file, and needs no owner password for restrictions.
- ✓Chrome's Save as PDF and Mac Preview are free alternatives. Acrobat needs a paid Pro or Standard plan.
- ✓A forgotten open password can't be removed, because the content itself is encrypted and only the password unlocks it.
Tools for the job
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove a password from a PDF?
Open the PDF with its password, then save a copy without encryption. In PDFToolz Unlock PDF, select the file, type the password, press Unlock PDF and download the -unlocked.pdf copy. Chrome's Save as PDF, Preview's Edit Permissions and Acrobat's security settings also work.
How do I remove a password from a PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
Use a free tool. PDFToolz Unlock PDF works in any browser and keeps links and form fields. If the file allows printing, you can also open it in Chrome, press Ctrl+P or Cmd+P, set Destination to Save as PDF and save a new copy. On a Mac, use File > Edit Permissions in Preview.
Can I remove a password from a PDF if I forgot it?
Not an open password. The content is encrypted, and only that password unlocks it, so nothing can be removed without it. Ask the sender for the password or a new copy. Statements from banks and employers often use a set format explained in the email that came with them.
How do I remove a password from a PDF on a Mac?
Open the PDF in Preview and type the password. Choose File > Edit Permissions, deselect Require Password To Open Document and click Apply. PDFToolz Unlock PDF also runs in Safari or any other Mac browser.
Can I remove PDF restrictions without the permissions password?
Yes, if the file opens without a password. PDFToolz Unlock PDF removes print, copy and edit restrictions with the password box left empty. Adobe Acrobat asks for the permissions password instead. Only do this on files you own or are allowed to use.
Is it safe to remove a PDF password online?
It depends on where the file goes. Many online unlock services upload your PDF and its password to their servers. PDFToolz Unlock PDF decrypts the file in your browser, so neither the PDF nor the password leaves your device.
Related terms
Sources and further reading
- Remove passwords from PDFs from Adobe Acrobat Help
- How to remove a PDF password from Adobe
- Password-protect a PDF in Preview on Mac from Apple Support
- Print from Chrome from Google Chrome Help
- Running qpdf: --decrypt and --password from qpdf documentation
- ISO 32000-2 (PDF 2.0) from PDF Association
Browse all PDF guides, look up a term in the PDF glossary, or head back to the PDFToolz toolkit.