How to unlock PDF
- Open the password-protected PDF.
- Type its password.
- Download the copy, which opens without a password.
When removing a password helps
Banks and payroll providers often send PDFs locked with a password, such as part of your date of birth or postcode. That is sensible for sending, but tiresome when you open the file often, or need to merge statements, split out pages, print, or upload to a portal that rejects locked files.
Removing the password gives you a normal PDF you can do all of that with. Because the file is decrypted in your browser, the statement or payslip is not sent to anyone to do it.
Why you need to know the password
A password-protected PDF is encrypted. The pages are stored as scrambled data, and the password is what produces the key to turn them back into readable pages. Without the key there is nothing readable to copy out. This tool uses the password you type to decrypt the file, then saves it without encryption.
It does not guess, crack or bypass unknown passwords. If you have lost the password to your own document, ask whoever sent it for a new copy or for the password. Many banks and employers explain the format of the password in the email that came with the file, for example your date of birth as DDMMYYYY.
Keep the unlocked copy safe
Once the password is removed, anyone who gets the file can read it. Store it somewhere private, and if you need to send it on, add a new password with Protect PDF. Delete stray copies from your downloads folder when you are done.
Questions people ask
Can this open a PDF if I have forgotten the password?
No. It removes a password you know. It does not crack or bypass unknown passwords.
Is it legal to remove a password from a PDF?
Removing the password from your own document, such as your bank statement or payslip, using a password you were given is an everyday task. If a document belongs to someone else, ask them.
Is the original file changed?
No. You get a new copy without the password. The original stays protected.
Why does my bank password-protect statements?
Email is not a private channel, so a password stops anyone who intercepts or is wrongly sent the file from reading it.