Remove password protection from your PDF. Enter the password to decrypt and download an unlocked copy.
Last Updated: August 2026·Written by Ayaz Dilawar
Drop your locked PDF here
or click to browse · Password-protected PDF
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Legal notice: Only unlock PDFs you own or have permission to access. You must know the password — this tool does not crack or brute-force passwords.
Enter PDF Password
Your password is processed entirely in your browser and never sent anywhere.
PDF Unlocked!
How to Unlock a PDF
1
Upload your locked PDF
Select or drag the password-protected PDF file.
2
Enter the password
Type the correct password. It stays in your browser — never sent to any server.
3
Download unlocked PDF
The decrypted PDF is generated in your browser and ready to download instantly.
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Unlock PDF
Remove password from PDF online for free. Unlock password-protected PDFs instantly in your browser. No upload, no signup, processed entirely in your browser.
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Stays in your browser
Processing runs on your own device. Your files are not uploaded to a server, so private documents stay private.
Removes the password from a PDF and gives you an unlocked copy. You must enter the correct password, because the tool does not crack or bypass unknown ones, and PDFs with DRM or advanced restrictions may not be supported. Removing the password also removes permission locks such as print and copy restrictions, so only unlock files you own or have permission to unlock, and use Protect PDF to lock the result again.
Good to know
Only remove passwords from PDFs you own or have explicit permission to unlock.
Keep the original password-protected file as a backup in case you need to re-lock it later.
Re-protect with a new password using Protect PDF once you're done editing, if the file still needs to be secured.
Requires knowing the current password to unlock — this tool doesn't crack or bypass unknown passwords.
Removing a password also removes any permission restrictions (like print/copy locks) that came with it.
Not intended for unlocking documents you don't have authorization to access.
Troubleshooting
"Incorrect password": Passwords are case-sensitive — check for extra spaces, autocorrect changes, or a mixed-up similar password before trying again.
"Could not unlock this PDF": The file may be damaged rather than password-protected. Try Repair PDF on the original first.
I don't know the password: PDFly cannot recover or crack a forgotten password — it only removes protection when you supply the correct one.
The unlocked file still can't be edited in another app: Some readers cache the original permission settings. Close and reopen the unlocked file, or reopen the app itself.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You must know the correct password to remove protection from your own PDF.
No. PDFs with DRM or advanced security restrictions may not be supported.
No. Unlocking only removes supported password restrictions while preserving the original pages and formatting.
Yes. Processing happens locally in your browser, so your files are not uploaded to a server.