# Unlock a PDF

> Unlock a password-protected PDF in your browser. Type the password and save a copy without encryption. No upload. Not a password cracker.

Remove password protection here

Unlock PDF removes password protection from a file you can already open. Type the password once, and pdf-lib writes a new copy without encryption. The result opens freely. The original on disk stays encrypted. We do not store the password. If you also have the owner password for permissions, that is dropped too.

This is not a PDF password cracker. You must already know the password. The new file has no restrictions. Close the tab and the working files are gone. Protect again if you want a different password later.

Free. There is no paid tier. No account. They stay on your computer. Nothing is uploaded. You must already know the password. This is not a cracker.

## How to unlock a PDF in your browser

1. Drop one password-protected PDF.
2. Type the password you use to open it on your computer.
3. Unlock PDF. A new file without encryption is created locally.
4. Download the unlocked copy. The original stays encrypted on disk.

## Unlock PDF without a cloud password tool

Uploading an encrypted file to remove the password means someone else sees the plain text. This page never receives the file. It also will not crack a lost password. You must already know it.

## Questions

### Can this unlock a PDF if I forgot the password?

No. This is not a password cracker. You must already know the password to open the file.

### Does unlock PDF upload my file?

No. Decryption happens in this browser. Close the tab and the working files are gone.

### Will the original encrypted PDF be changed?

No. You download a new file without the password. The original on disk stays encrypted.

### What if the file only asks for a password to edit, not to open?

Try it without typing a password first. Permissions-only locks may open anyway. Unlocking drops all restrictions.

### Why would I want to unlock a PDF?

So you can open, print, or edit without typing the password again. The new copy has no encryption.

## Related tools

- [Protect PDF](https://lovethispdf.com/tools/protect-pdf.md): Add a new password to the unlocked file.
- [Merge PDF](https://lovethispdf.com/tools/merge-pdf.md): Merge the unlocked file with other documents.
- [Compress PDF](https://lovethispdf.com/tools/compress-pdf.md): Shrink the unlocked file.
- [Organize PDF](https://lovethispdf.com/tools/organize-pdf.md): Reorder pages after you remove the password.