Free PDF Unlocker
Remove the password from a PDF file you own and have the password for. Enter the PDF password, and the tool produces a clean, unlocked version that opens without any password prompt. Everything happens in your browser — your files never leave your device. For use only on files you own and are authorized to unlock.
Drop a password-protected PDF here or click to browse
Your file never leaves your device
🔒 Your files never leave your device — all processing happens in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this tool crack or bypass a PDF password I don't know?+
No. This tool is for removing passwords from PDFs you already have the password for. You must supply the correct password — no guessing or cracking is attempted. Use this only on files you own and are authorized to modify.
Are my PDF files uploaded to a server?+
No. All decryption and unlocking happens inside your browser. Your file and password never leave your device.
What types of PDF protection does this remove?+
This tool removes the open (user) password that prevents the PDF from being opened, and also removes owner restrictions (editing, printing, copying). It works on standard 40-bit and 128-bit RC4 encrypted PDFs.
Why might the unlocked PDF look different?+
When unlocking strongly encrypted PDFs, the tool decrypts and re-renders each page. The visual content is preserved, but text may become image-based in the output. For fully fidelity, use the PDF OCR tool on the result to restore a searchable text layer.
Is it legal to unlock a PDF?+
If you created the PDF or have been given explicit permission by the author to remove the protection, yes. Unlocking PDFs you do not own without authorization may violate copyright or access laws in your jurisdiction. This tool is intended for recovering access to your own documents.
How the PDF Unlocker Works
This tool uses PDF.js — Mozilla's open-source PDF renderer — to decrypt and render your password-protected PDF directly in the browser. You provide the password you already have, PDF.js decrypts the content, and each page is rendered to a canvas element. The rendered pages are then assembled into a new, password-free PDF.
What to Do After Unlocking
The unlocked PDF preserves the visual appearance of every page. Since decryption works by re-rendering each page as an image, the output text is embedded in page images rather than as a selectable text layer. For most uses — printing, sharing, archiving — this is perfectly acceptable. If you need the text to be searchable and copyable, run the unlocked PDF through the PDF OCR tool to restore a text layer.
Common Scenarios
PDFs get locked in many situations: a client sends a protected contract for your records; a bank portal generates a password-protected statement; you protected a document yourself and now want to merge it with others. In all cases where you legitimately hold the password, this tool removes the barrier so you can continue working with the file in the PDF Merger, PDF Splitter, or PDF Compressor.
Privacy — Password Never Leaves Your Device
Your PDF and the password you enter are processed entirely in your browser. Neither the file content nor the password is transmitted to any server. Unlike online PDF unlockers that process files on remote infrastructure, this tool has no visibility into your document.