How to use Unlock PDF
- 1
Choose the password-protected PDF.
- 2
Enter the password you normally type to open it. The permissions password works too.
- 3
Press "Unlock PDF". If the password is wrong, you'll be told and can try again.
- 4
Download the unlocked copy. Your original file is not changed.
What this tool does
Unlock PDF removes the open password from a PDF when you know it. It decrypts the document and saves a new copy without any encryption, so it opens directly in any reader and can be edited by other tools. The content, page layout, metadata and links are kept.
Features
- Works with every common cipher: RC4 40/128-bit, AES-128 and AES-256.
- Accepts either password: the open password or the permissions (owner) password.
- Clear feedback when the password is wrong or the file wasn't protected to begin with.
- Your original stays untouched; you download a separate unlocked copy.
Limits
- You must know a password for the file. There is no password recovery.
- Certificate-based (public-key) encryption and DRM systems aren't supported.
- One file at a time.
- Digital signatures stop validating, because the document is rewritten without encryption.
Where your file is processed
This tool works in your browser: your PDF is processed on your own device, so it isn't sent to our server for this tool. Some other tools on UtiloNest do use our server, and their pages say so.
Frequently asked questions
Can this tool open a PDF if I don't know the password?
No. It removes a password you already know; it does not guess, crack or bypass passwords. If you've lost the password, ask the person or organisation that sent you the file for an unprotected copy.
Why would I remove a password from my own PDF?
Bank statements, payslips and utility bills often arrive locked with your date of birth or account number. Unlocking your own copy saves typing the password every time, and lets you merge, split or compress the file with other tools.
Which kinds of PDF encryption are supported?
The standard password security in all its common strengths, namely 40-bit and 128-bit RC4, 128-bit AES and 256-bit AES. Files protected with digital certificates instead of a password can't be unlocked here.
Are printing and copying restrictions removed too?
Yes. The unlocked copy has no encryption at all, so restrictions set by the original permissions no longer apply.
Is the password sent to your server?
No. This tool decrypts the file in your browser, so neither the file nor the password is sent to our server for it.