Forgotten permission locks
Remove the printing or copying lock on a PDF you own when the lock blocks legitimate use.
Free PDF tool
Unlock a PDF
Remove the password from a PDF you own when you can supply the password, or strip a permissions lock that blocks printing and copying. The unlock runs in your browser — the file is never uploaded.
Permission lock removalOpen password supported100% in browserNo account required
Use this for your own PDFs only
This tool does not break or guess passwords. You must already know the password, or the PDF must only use a permissions lock. Do not use this tool to circumvent restrictions on documents you do not have the right to unlock.
Unlock PDF
Upload the PDF, enter the password if needed, then unlock.
Permissions locks come off cleanly with text and vectors preserved. Open-password PDFs are decrypted with your password and re-saved as a fresh unencrypted file by re-rendering each page.
Two kinds of PDF locks
Permission lock
Limits printing, copying, or editing without requiring a password to open. This tool strips the permission lock and saves a fresh PDF with vector content preserved.
Open password
Requires a password to open the document. You must supply the correct password. The tool then re-renders each page so the new PDF opens without one.
How to unlock a PDF
- 01
Upload your PDF
Drop the locked PDF onto the upload area. The tool detects whether a password is needed.
- 02
Enter password if asked
If the PDF asks for an open password, enter it. Permission-only locks need no password.
- 03
Download
The unlocked PDF downloads instantly.
Common use cases
Internal archives
Re-save older internal PDFs without the password layer that is no longer needed.
Personal documents
Unlock your own bank statements, insurance documents, or contracts when you know the password.
Workflow compatibility
Some accounting, OCR, and DMS tools refuse locked PDFs. Unlock first, then process.
Mobile and viewer compatibility
Locked PDFs sometimes display poorly on mobile or web viewers. Re-saving fixes compatibility.
Share via link
After unlock, host the file as a shareable link with PDFtoLink and add a separate access password.
Unlock PDF FAQ
Does this break or guess PDF passwords?
No. The tool can only decrypt PDFs whose password you already know, or PDFs that only have a permissions lock with no open password.
Is the PDF uploaded?
No. The unlock runs entirely in your browser using PDF.js and pdf-lib. The PDF and password never leave your device.
Will text stay selectable after unlock?
Permission-only locks come off without re-rendering, so text stays selectable. PDFs with an open password are re-rendered as images, so text becomes part of the page image.
What if I forgot the password?
This tool cannot recover forgotten passwords. Contact the document owner or check your password manager.
Is it legal to unlock a PDF?
Removing protection on PDFs you own is fine in most jurisdictions. Circumventing locks on documents you do not have the right to unlock may be illegal. Use this tool only with PDFs you have the right to unlock.
Can I share the unlocked PDF as a link?
Yes. After download, upload it to PDFtoLink to generate an instant shareable URL with optional password protection at the link level.