How to Unlock a Password-Protected PDF (Free, No Upload)
Bank statements, payslips, and invoices often arrive as password-protected PDFs. Typing the password every single time you open the file gets old fast. If you know the password, you can remove it once and keep an unlocked copy. Here's how to unlock a PDF for free — entirely in your browser, with the file never uploaded anywhere.
Unlock a PDF in three steps
- Open the Unlock PDF tool and drop in your protected PDF.
- Enter the PDF's current password.
- Click Unlock PDF and download the unlocked copy.
Important: you need the password
This tool removes a password you already know— it does not and cannot crack an unknown one. If you can open the PDF (even if it prompts you for a password each time), you can unlock it here. If you don't have the password, no legitimate tool can bypass it. Only unlock documents you own or have permission to modify.
Why do it in your browser?
Password-protected PDFs are usually sensitive — financial statements, contracts, IDs. Uploading them to a random website is exactly what you don't want to do. This tool uses qpdf compiled to WebAssembly, which runs the decryption right on your device. Your file and password never leave your browser, and it handles all standard PDF encryption (RC4 and AES-128/256).
The opposite: add a password
Need to protect a PDF instead of unlock one? The Protect PDF tool adds a password and AES-256 encryption, also entirely in your browser. It's the exact reverse of this tool.
Do more with your PDF
Once it's unlocked you can merge it with other PDFs, compress it, or split out the pages you need. See all the PDF tools in one place.
FAQ
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No — decryption runs entirely in your browser, so your file and password never leave your device.
Do I need the password?
Yes. This removes a password you know; it can't recover or crack an unknown one.
Will it work on a bank statement?
Yes — it handles standard PDF encryption, so real-world protected PDFs (like statements) unlock fine once you enter the correct password.
Is the unlocked text still selectable?
Yes — it removes only the encryption, so the PDF's text, formatting, and pages are preserved.