Unlock PDF - Remove Password Protection
Your PDF stays secure — unlock passwords without uploading
or Drag & drop files here
Supported formats: .pdf, application/pdf
Remove Password from PDF Online Free - Unlock PDF Files Instantly
Unlock password-protected PDF files with our free online PDF password remover. Simply enter the known password to remove protection from your PDFs. Remove both user passwords (required to open) and owner passwords (restrictions on printing, copying, editing). All processing happens locally in your browser—your files and passwords are never uploaded to any server.
100% Free • No Upload Required • Instant Unlock • Supports All PDF Encryption Types
How to Remove Password from PDF
Unlock your password-protected PDF in 4 simple steps
Upload your password-protected PDF file by dragging or browsing
Supports batch unlocking—upload up to 20 PDFs protected with the same password.
Enter the password that was used to protect the PDF
Enter the exact password used to encrypt the file. Passwords are case-sensitive.
Click 'Unlock PDF' to remove the password protection
Our tool removes both user passwords (open) and owner passwords (permissions).
Download your unlocked PDF file without password restrictions
Your unlocked PDF will have no password requirements and full permissions enabled.
Why Choose PDFyogi PDF Unlocker?
The safest way to remove passwords from PDF files
100% Browser-Based Privacy
Your PDF files and passwords never leave your device. All decryption happens locally in your browser using WebAssembly. We literally cannot see your passwords or documents.
Remove Both Password Types
Unlock PDFs protected with user passwords (required to open) and owner passwords (restrictions on printing, copying, editing). One tool handles both encryption types.
Batch PDF Unlocking
Unlock multiple PDFs at once if they share the same password. Perfect for unlocking entire folders of protected documents in one operation.
Supports All PDF Encryption
Works with all standard PDF encryption methods including 40-bit RC4, 128-bit AES, and 256-bit AES. Compatible with PDFs from any source.
Instant Processing
No upload wait times since files process locally. Unlock most PDFs in under a second. Even large documents unlock quickly.
Completely Free Forever
No file size limits, no daily restrictions, no registration required. Unlock unlimited PDFs without ever paying or creating an account.
PDF Password Removal Use Cases
Common scenarios where unlocking PDFs saves time
Forgotten Password Recovery
You protected a PDF long ago and remember the password but want to remove protection permanently. Unlock it once and save an unprotected copy.
Example: Remove password from tax documents you protected years ago
Archive Document Access
Unlock archived documents that were password-protected for temporary security but no longer need protection. Simplify access for team members.
Example: Unlock old project files for new team members to access
Remove Print/Copy Restrictions
Unlock PDFs with owner passwords that block printing or copying. Access the full content of documents you're authorized to use.
Example: Enable printing on a PDF manual you purchased
Merge Protected Documents
Need to combine password-protected PDFs? Unlock them first, then use a PDF merger. Protected PDFs can't be merged without unlocking.
Example: Merge protected contract sections into one document
Edit Protected Content
Unlock PDFs to enable text selection, annotation, and editing. Remove owner password restrictions that prevent modifications.
Example: Unlock a form to fill in fields or add signatures
Simplify Document Sharing
Remove passwords from documents before sharing with team members who need easy access. Eliminate the friction of password distribution.
Example: Unlock internal reports for company-wide distribution
Unlock PDF on Any Platform
Step-by-step guides for every device and operating system
Remove Password from PDF on Windows
Works in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge on Windows 10/11. No software installation required.
- Open PDFyogi in any modern browser
- Upload your password-protected PDF
- Enter the password and click Unlock
- Download your unlocked PDF
Remove Password from PDF on Mac
Best experience in Safari or Chrome on macOS. More reliable than Preview's unlock feature.
- Open PDFyogi in Safari or Chrome
- Select your protected PDF from Finder
- Enter the password to unlock
- Export unlocked PDF to your preferred location
Remove Password from PDF on Linux
Works on all Linux distributions with Firefox or Chrome. No command-line tools needed.
- Open PDFyogi in Firefox or Chrome
- Upload protected PDF from file manager
- Enter password and unlock
- Download the unlocked file
Remove Password from PDF on iPhone & iPad
Full functionality in Safari on iOS 14+. Unlock PDFs from Files app, iCloud, or email attachments.
- Open PDFyogi in Safari on your iPhone/iPad
- Tap to select protected PDF from Files
- Enter the password
- Save unlocked PDF to Files app or share
Remove Password from PDF on Android
Works in Chrome on Android devices. Access PDFs from Downloads, Drive, or any file manager.
- Open PDFyogi in Chrome on Android
- Select your protected PDF file
- Enter the password to unlock
- Download or share the unlocked PDF
PDFyogi vs Other PDF Unlock Tools
See how we compare to popular PDF password removers
| Feature | PDFyogi | Adobe Acrobat | Smallpdf | iLovePDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $14.99/mo | Free* | Free* |
| Privacy (No Upload) | ✓ Full | ✓ Desktop app | ✗ Server upload | ✗ Server upload |
| User Password Removal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Owner Password Removal | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ○ Limited | ○ Limited |
| Batch Unlocking | ✓ Up to 20 files | ✓ Unlimited | ○ 2 files/day | ○ Limited |
| 256-bit AES Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Works Offline | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Registration Required | No | Yes | No | No |
| File Size Limit | 100MB | Unlimited | 5GB | 100MB |
PDFyogi offers complete privacy with local processing—your passwords and files never leave your device. Unlike server-based tools that upload your sensitive documents, we process everything in your browser. Full functionality is free with no daily limits.
Advanced PDF Unlocking Tips
Expert techniques for managing password-protected PDFs
Understanding User vs Owner Passwords
User passwords prevent opening the PDF entirely—you can't view it without the password. Owner passwords allow viewing but restrict actions like printing, copying, or editing. Our tool removes both types.
Batch Unlock Strategy
If you have multiple PDFs with different passwords, group them by password first. Unlock each group separately. This is faster than unlocking files one at a time.
Password Case Sensitivity
PDF passwords are case-sensitive. 'Password123' is different from 'password123'. If unlocking fails, check caps lock and try different capitalizations you might have used.
Check If PDF Is Actually Protected
Some PDFs appear locked but aren't—they just have empty owner passwords. Try opening the PDF first. If it opens without asking for a password, it may just have permission restrictions.
Save Unprotected Backups
After unlocking important documents, save unprotected copies in a secure location. This prevents the hassle of remembering passwords in the future while keeping originals for reference.
Verify Content After Unlocking
Always open the unlocked PDF to verify all content transferred correctly. Check that pages, images, and text appear as expected before deleting the original protected version.
Technical Specifications
Detailed technical information about our PDF unlock tool
Frequently Asked Questions About PDF Password Removal
Use PDFyogi's free online PDF unlocker. Upload your password-protected PDF, enter the password you used to protect it, and click Unlock. Download your unlocked PDF with no password and full permissions. It's completely free with no registration required.
No. PDFyogi requires you to know the password to unlock a PDF. This is by design—bypassing PDF passwords without authorization would enable illegal activity. If you've forgotten your password, try common passwords you typically use.
User password (open password) is required to view the PDF at all—without it, you can't even open the file. Owner password (permissions password) allows viewing but restricts printing, copying, and editing. Our tool can remove both types.
No. Your password never leaves your device. All PDF decryption happens locally in your browser using WebAssembly technology. We literally cannot see your password because it's never transmitted to us.
Yes. Upload up to 20 PDFs and unlock them all with the same password in one batch operation. This is perfect for unlocking folders of documents that were protected with the same password.
Passwords are case-sensitive—check caps lock. Also verify you're entering the user password (to open) vs owner password (for permissions). Some PDFs use different passwords for each. Try both passwords if you have them.
Yes. PDFyogi works in mobile browsers on both iPhone (Safari) and Android (Chrome). Open the tool, upload your protected PDF, enter the password, and save the unlocked file—all from your phone.
No. Unlocking only removes the password protection. All text, images, fonts, formatting, and other content remain exactly the same. The only change is that the PDF no longer requires a password.
Print restrictions are set by owner passwords. Enter the owner password in PDFyogi to unlock the PDF. Once unlocked, all restrictions (printing, copying, editing) are removed and you can print normally.
Yes, if you're authorized to access the content. Unlocking your own documents or documents you have permission to access is legal. However, bypassing security on documents you don't have authorization to access may violate laws and terms of use.
Troubleshooting PDF Unlocking
Common issues and how to resolve them