Unlock PDF
Remove a password you know from a PDF — locally, with no upload.
- Runs in your browser — files never leave your device
- Instant — no waiting, no queue
- No sign-up, no limits
Drop a locked PDF here, or click to choose
One PDF up to 100 MB · processed only on this device
Use only a PDF you own or are authorized to modify. This tool does not guess or recover passwords.
Your PDF and password stay in this browser tab. Nothing is uploaded or stored after the unlocked copy downloads.
How to use
- Drop in a PDF or choose one from your device.
- Enter the password currently used to open the PDF. Leave it empty only if you know it has no open password.
- Select “Unlock and download.”
- Open the downloaded _unlocked.pdf copy; it no longer asks for that password.
This removes a password you know — it does not crack one
A PDF can have a document-open password, which a reader requests before showing the file, and separate owner permissions for printing, copying, or editing. This tool asks qpdf, an open-source PDF processor, to decrypt the file using the password you supply and save a new, unencrypted copy. It does not try password lists, guesses, or recovery attacks. If you no longer know the opening password, ask the person or organization that issued the document.
The file and password do not leave your device
iLovePDF shows an upload stage before unlocking. Smallpdf’s instructions likewise start by uploading the PDF; its Korean page says uploaded files are deleted after 1 hour. Here, qpdf WebAssembly runs in a browser worker: it receives the selected file and password in this tab, creates the unlocked copy, then the worker is discarded. The password field is cleared after a successful download and is never saved to local storage.
Compatibility and 100 MB browser limit
This tool supports ordinary password-encrypted PDFs that qpdf can decrypt with the supplied password. It accepts one PDF up to 100 MB because browser-based processing holds the source and result in device memory. Progress remains visible during longer work, and Cancel stops the worker without changing the original. The copy preserves the PDF’s pages and content; it removes encryption rather than rasterizing every page. Digital signatures may become invalid whenever a PDF is changed, so keep the original if signature validation matters.
Frequently asked questions
Can I unlock a PDF if I forgot the password?
No. This tool removes protection only when you provide the current password, and it does not use guessing, brute force, or password recovery. Ask the document sender for the password or another copy.
Are my PDF and password uploaded?
No. The PDF bytes and password are processed in a Web Worker inside your browser tab, and no file or password is sent to a Betterbit server. The password is cleared after a successful download and is not saved in browser storage.
Will the unlocked PDF keep its quality?
Yes. qpdf writes a decrypted PDF copy instead of converting pages to images, so text remains selectable and embedded images are not rasterized. Keep the original too, because modifying a signed PDF can invalidate its digital signature.
Why does the password field allow an empty value?
Some PDFs do not need a password to open but have owner permission restrictions. An empty password lets qpdf try that case; a PDF with an open password still needs its correct password.
Is there a PDF file size limit?
Yes. This tool accepts one PDF up to 100 MB so it can safely hold the source and decrypted output in browser memory. There is no daily usage limit or account requirement.
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Updated 2026-10-27