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How to unlock a PDF: remove a password or printing restrictions
What can and cannot be unlocked, how to remove a known password, and how to lift copy and print restrictions — privately, without uploading the file.
Quick answer
Open Unlock PDF, choose the file and type its password. If the PDF only blocks printing, copying or editing, no password is needed. A password you do not have cannot be recovered.
Two different kinds of PDF protection
- Open password (user password). The file will not open without it. You must know it to unlock the file.
- Permissions password (owner password). Anyone can open the file, but printing, copying or editing is restricted. These restrictions can be removed without the password.
Steps
- Open Unlock PDF and choose the file.
- The tool tells you which kind of protection the file has. If it needs a password, type it in.
- Select Unlock PDF and download the copy. Text stays selectable and quality is unchanged.
Protecting a file again
Need to share a document safely? Protect PDF adds an AES-256 password and lets you allow or block printing, copying and editing.
Frequently asked questions
I forgot the PDF password. Can you recover it?
No. Without the password the contents cannot be opened, which is exactly what the protection is for.
Is my password sent anywhere?
No. Decryption runs in your browser tab and the password is discarded afterwards.