PDFFree trial

Unlock PDF

Remove password protection from a PDF you own.

Last updated 27 June 2026

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How to use Unlock PDF

About 15 seconds, start to finish.

1
Open the unlocker
Visit /tools/pdf/unlock-pdf.
2
Upload the protected PDF
Drag the file in or click to pick.
3
Enter the current password
We never store it — used only for the one-shot decrypt.
4
Click Unlock PDF
qpdf strips the encryption layer; the contents are unchanged.
5
Download
Unencrypted PDF downloads. Anyone with the file can now open it without a password.

Frequently asked about Unlock PDF

What if I don't know the password?

We can't help — modern PDF encryption (AES-256) is not crackable at consumer scale. Ask whoever sent the document for the password.

Will the content be different after unlock?

No. qpdf only removes the encryption layer; bytes, formatting, fonts, embedded images all stay identical.

Is the password sent over the wire?

Yes, over HTTPS, processed in memory, never logged or stored. Once the response returns, the password is garbage-collected.

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