Unlock PDF
A copy without the password.
Use your PDF password to create an image-based, password-free copy you can open and share.
Known password · Local processing · PDF downloadDrop your PDF file here
or choose a document from your device
One PDF · Up to 25 MB · Maximum 100 pages
Your unlocked copy is ready
From protected file to accessible copy
A straightforward way to open an authorised copy without entering the password every time.
Your original PDF
Keep the original and enter its opening password when required.
A new, unlocked PDF
Visible pages are rebuilt as images in a password-free document.
The output opens without a password; it is not a searchable or tagged PDF.
How to unlock a PDF online
Choose your document
Select a PDF you are allowed to use. The limit is 25 MB and 100 pages.
Enter the password
Provide the opening password if needed, confirm permission and click Unlock PDF.
Save and check
Download your new PDF. Check that the pages, orientation and visible details are correct.
What changes when you unlock this way?
Removing a password and rebuilding a document are different operations. This tool uses page rendering: it opens the PDF with your password, draws the pages and saves those images in a new file. That makes the result convenient to view, but it changes how the content can be used.
What you get
No opening passwordA new copy that opens without a prompt.
Page order and sizeDisplayed orientation and dimensions retained.
A separate downloadYour original file stays unchanged.
What is not retained
Searchable textText becomes part of the page image.
Interactive contentForms and links lose their interactivity.
Signature validityDigital signatures do not transfer.
When an unlocked copy is useful
An image-based copy can be useful when you have the password and simply need to view, print or share the visible pages. For example, you may want a reading copy of an old password-protected report or a document that a recipient can open without another password message.
It is a poor fit for extracting tables, editing document text, preserving a signed agreement’s verification or providing an accessible document to a screen-reader user. Use the original or ask its owner for a suitable export in those cases.
Opening password vs. permissions
An opening password controls whether a PDF can be read. Permission settings may restrict operations after it opens. This tool requires a valid opening password where one exists and creates a new visual copy; it does not recover passwords or modify the original permission settings.
Before you share
Check the page count, small print, filled-in fields and annotations against the original. JPEG rendering can soften fine details. Treat the downloaded file as an unprotected copy, and store it appropriately for its contents.
How your document is handled
The tool reads the selected file on your device. PDF.js opens and renders it using the password you enter, then pdf-lib creates the image-based output. The PDF bytes and password are not uploaded by this tool’s processing code.
Local processing, clear limits
Libraries load from an external CDN. The tool does not save the file or password in browser storage. The password field is cleared after a successful run or reset, and the download link is released when you remove the file. Copies you download remain on your device.
About this website
Advertising, analytics and other site features have their own data practices. Review the site’s privacy information for those services. If a document fails, check the password and file limits before trying again.
Questions about unlocking a PDF
Can I unlock a PDF if I do not know its password?
No. If the PDF requires an opening password, you must enter the correct one. This tool does not guess, recover or crack forgotten passwords. Ask the document owner for the password or an accessible copy.
Will the unlocked PDF keep selectable text and editable forms?
No. This version rebuilds each displayed page as an image in a new PDF. The result has no opening password, but text is not selectable, links are not clickable and form fields are not editable. Bookmarks, attachments, accessibility tags and digital signatures are not carried over.
What if my PDF opens without asking for a password?
Leave the password field blank. Some PDFs restrict actions such as copying or printing without requiring a password to open. If you have permission to make a copy, this tool can rebuild the visible pages. It does not edit the original file’s permission settings.
Are my PDF and password sent to a server?
This tool processes the selected document and password in your browser. Its code does not upload them to a conversion server or store them in local storage. Libraries are loaded from an external CDN. Your website’s advertising, analytics and privacy practices are separate.
Why is my password being rejected?
Passwords are case-sensitive. Check capital letters, keyboard layout and any spaces before or after the password. Use the opening password provided by the document owner. A certificate-protected, damaged or unsupported PDF may fail for a different reason.
Will the file size or print quality change?
It can. Pages are rendered as JPEG images, so text and graphics may look softer when enlarged and the output may be larger than the original. The displayed page size and orientation are retained. Large pages use a reduced rendering scale to limit browser memory use.
What file limits apply?
Choose one PDF at a time, up to 25 MB and 100 pages. Those limits help control browser memory use, but some complex files may still be too demanding for your device. Keep the tab open until processing finishes. You can cancel and try a smaller document.
Can I use this for a digitally signed PDF?
Use the original signed document when you need to verify a signature. Rebuilding pages creates a new file and does not preserve a valid digital signature, even if a signature’s visible image appears on the page.
What should I check before sharing the result?
Open the downloaded file and confirm that all pages are present, correctly oriented and readable. Review filled forms and annotations against the original. Keep the original document, especially if you need searchable text, attachments, signatures or an accessible PDF.