How to Remove Password From PDF — 3 Free Methods

All methods below require that you already know the password. These are not password-cracking tools.

Method 1: Free Online PDF Unlocker

The fastest option. PDF Mavericks processes the file entirely in your browser — the password is never sent to any server.

1
Open the Unlock PDF Tool
Navigate to pdfmavericks.com/unlock-pdf
2
Upload the Protected PDF
Drag and drop your password-protected file.
3
Enter the Password
Type the current password to authenticate the decryption.
4
Download the Unlocked PDF
The tool strips the encryption and downloads the unlocked file.

Unlock PDF Free

Method 2: Chrome Print-to-PDF Trick

This requires no extra tools — just Chrome or Edge. When you open a password-protected PDF in the browser and print it, the browser strips the encryption from the new PDF it creates.

1. Open the PDF in Chrome and enter the password when prompted.
2. Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) to open the print dialog.
3. Set the destination to "Save as PDF."
4. Click Save. The downloaded PDF has no password.

This method strips interactive elements (form fields, hyperlinks, bookmarks). Use it for read-only documents only.

Method 3: Command Line (qpdf)

For technical users, qpdf is a free open-source tool that removes PDF encryption with a single command and preserves all document features.

qpdf --decrypt --password=yourpassword input.pdf output.pdf

Install qpdf via Homebrew on Mac (brew install qpdf), apt on Linux (sudo apt install qpdf), or the Windows installer from the qpdf GitHub releases page.

Removing Permission Restrictions

Some PDFs open without a password but restrict printing, copying, or editing. These use a separate "permissions password" that isn't visible to the user.

Restriction types

• No printing
• No text copying
• No editing or annotations
• No form filling

How to remove them

• Use the PDF Mavericks unlock tool
• qpdf with --decrypt flag
• Chrome print-to-PDF (removes all restrictions)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove a PDF password without knowing it?

Not with free tools. Password recovery (brute-force cracking) requires specialized software and, for strong passwords, may not be feasible at all. The methods in this guide require that you know the current password.

Is it legal to remove a password from a PDF?

Yes, if you own the document or have authorization to access it. Removing encryption from a document you have the password for is legal and standard practice. Circumventing DRM on documents you don't own is a different matter.

Will removing the password affect the PDF content?

No. Password removal only strips the encryption layer. All text, images, tables, and formatting remain identical.

My PDF has a 'permissions password' but no open password — how do I remove restrictions?

A permissions password restricts actions like printing, copying, or editing without requiring a password to open the file. Free tools like PDF Mavericks can remove permission restrictions. Some tools require the permissions password; others can bypass it for non-certified PDFs.

Can I re-protect the PDF with a new password after removing the old one?

Yes. After removing the existing password, use a PDF protect tool to add a new one. PDF Mavericks has both tools available on the same site.

Remove the password from your PDF now

Free, private, in-browser. Your file never leaves your device.