Unlock PDF
Remove the password from a PDF you can already open. Enter your password and download an unlocked copy. Everything runs in your browser — your file and password are never uploaded.
Your file is processed entirely in your browser and is never uploaded. We never store or transmit your password.
Only use this on PDFs you own or are authorised to access.
Understanding the Unlock PDF
Unlock PDF removes the password from a PDF you can already open. You upload the file, type the password you normally use to open it, and download an unlocked copy that opens with no prompt. It is built for people who own a document but are tired of re-entering a password every time — receipts, statements, scanned contracts, or exports from banking apps. It is not a cracking tool: you must know the correct password. Everything runs 100% client-side in your browser using WebAssembly, so your PDF is never uploaded and your password is never stored or transmitted anywhere.
How it works
The tool loads QPDF compiled to WebAssembly (@neslinesli93/qpdf-wasm) directly in your browser, with the .wasm binary served locally. For each attempt it spins up a fresh module instance, writes your PDF into an in-memory virtual filesystem, and runs QPDF with the equivalent of `--password=YOURPASS --decrypt input.pdf output.pdf`. QPDF authenticates with the supplied password, then strips the encryption dictionary and rewrites the file without re-rendering content. If the password is wrong, QPDF returns a non-zero exit code and no output is produced, so you see a clear error. On success the unlocked bytes become a Blob that downloads via a temporary link.
Worked example
You have `bank-statement.pdf` that asks for a password every time you open it. You drag it in, type your password `Acct2026!`, tap Show to confirm there is no typo, and click Unlock PDF. QPDF authenticates, decrypts, and a file named `bank-statement-unlocked.pdf` downloads instantly. It opens with no prompt, and the account numbers and dates remain selectable text. If you had typed `acct2026`, you would instead see: "Incorrect password, or this PDF could not be unlocked."
Tips & common mistakes
- You must know the real password — this tool authenticates and removes encryption, it cannot guess, crack, or bypass an unknown password.
- Use the Show toggle to verify you typed the password correctly before clicking Unlock; a single wrong character produces the same error as no password.
- Only unlock PDFs you own or are authorised to access; removing protection from someone else's document may be illegal.
- The unlocked copy saves as `originalname-unlocked.pdf`, so your original encrypted file is left untouched.
- Decryption is lossless: text stays selectable and searchable, and images, fonts, and form fields are preserved exactly.
- If a PDF has both an open password and a separate owner/permissions password, enter the open password you use to view the file.
Related tools
How to Unlock a PDF
- 1Upload or drag in your password-protected PDF.
- 2Type the password you use to open the file — use Show to check it.
- 3Click Unlock PDF — your unlocked copy downloads automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can it open a PDF if I do not know the password?
No. You must enter the correct password — the one you use to open the file. This tool cannot crack, guess, or bypass an unknown password; it only removes encryption once you have authenticated.
Is my file or password uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser using WebAssembly. Your PDF never leaves your device, and your password is never stored or transmitted to any server.
Does it keep the text selectable?
Yes. qpdf losslessly removes the encryption layer without re-rendering the document, so your text, fonts, images, and form fields stay exactly as they were — fully selectable and searchable.