Unlock PDF — Remove Password & Restrictions
Remove a password or restrictions from a PDF you own — free, private, and fully in your browser (files never upload). Enter the open password, or lift copy/print limits with no password.
Only unlock PDFs you own or have permission to modify.
Remove a PDF password — right in your browser
PDFs come locked two ways. Some need a password just to open (a user password); others open freely but block copying, printing or editing (owner-password restrictions). This tool removes both: enter the open password if the file has one, or leave the field empty to strip copy/print restrictions from a file that already opens.
Crucially, it runs entirely in your browser using a WebAssembly build of the qpdf engine — your document is never uploaded to any server, which matters for the private files people typically need to unlock (bank statements, payslips, contracts). You can even go offline once the page has loaded.
This isn't a password cracker — you need to know the password (or the file must merely be restricted, not open-locked). That's the honest, legal use: unlocking documents you own. Once unlocked, the file behaves like any normal PDF — combine it with merge, split or rotate.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. Unlocking runs locally via a WebAssembly (qpdf) engine in your browser — the file never leaves your device, which you can confirm in your browser's network tools.
Can this crack a password I don't know?
No — and that's deliberate. You must know the open password. The only no-password case is a PDF that opens normally but restricts copying/printing; those restrictions can be removed.
Why did unlocking fail?
The usual cause is a wrong open password. If the PDF opens without a password but blocks actions, leave the password field empty and try again.
Is it legal to remove a PDF password?
Removing protection from documents you own or are authorised to modify is legitimate. Don't bypass protection on files you have no right to alter.