Unlock PDF
Remove the password from a PDF you can already open, and save an unencrypted copy that opens without it.
How to remove a password from a PDF
- Choose the password-protected PDF.
- Enter its current password. Leave the field empty if the PDF opens without one and only has restrictions.
- Press Remove the password.
- Wait for the check, then download the unlocked copy.
Options
- Password
- The password that opens the PDF now. Press Enter or the button to try it. A wrong password asks you again and changes nothing.
- Empty password
- Some PDFs open without a password but carry an owner password that restricts printing, copying or editing. Leave the field empty to remove that encryption.
- Reset password
- Clears the field. Undo keeps only one step, so the password is not held in a long history.
What you get
- One PDF named after the original with "(unlocked)" added.
- The copy has no encryption and no password. Permission restrictions from the original are gone with it.
- Pages and page sizes are kept. The old encryption data is removed from the file, not left behind unused.
- The Producer property is set to Deckle. Other document properties are kept.
Limits
- You need the correct password. Deckle does not guess, crack or bypass passwords.
- One PDF at a time.
- A PDF without a password is refused, because there is nothing to remove.
- Page previews appear only after the password is accepted.
- Digital signatures on the original are not kept valid by rewriting the file.
Check the result
Open the download in a new reader window without entering a password and look through the pages. Deckle checks that the copy opens without a password, has no encryption and has the same page count and page sizes as the original.
Related guides
Questions
Can I unlock a PDF without the password?
No. This tool removes a password you know. It does not recover or crack forgotten passwords.
What happens if I type the wrong password?
Deckle asks for it again. Nothing is written and the original stays as it was.
My PDF opens fine but I cannot print or copy from it. Can I fix that?
Usually, yes. Leave the password field empty and press the button. If the PDF only has an owner password, the restrictions are removed with the encryption.
Is the PDF uploaded to unlock it?
No. It is decrypted in your browser. The password is not stored or sent anywhere.
Which kinds of PDF encryption can it open?
Standard password encryption, including older RC4 files and current AES files.
Will unlocking change the content?
No. Pages are saved as they are, without the encryption. Deckle compares the page count and page sizes with the original after saving.
Can I unlock several PDFs at once?
No. Unlock PDF takes one file per run, and each file needs its own password.
Can I set a new password after unlocking?
Yes. Open the unlocked copy in Password protect PDF and set a new password of at least 6 characters.
Should I keep the protected original?
If you still need a locked copy, yes. Anyone who gets the unlocked copy can open it. You can lock it again later with Password protect PDF.
Why remove a password from a PDF?
A password you have to type every time gets in the way when you file, merge or archive a document you own. Some tools also need an unlocked copy first, including Remove PDF metadata and Password protect PDF when you want to set a new password.