Unlock PDF Files: How To Remove Password From PDF [5 Ways]

By Sruthy

By Sruthy

Sruthy, with her 10+ years of experience, is a dynamic professional who seamlessly blends her creative soul with technical prowess. With a Technical Degree in Graphics Design and Communications and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics and Communication, she brings a unique combination of artistic flair…

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Updated January 21, 2025

Here we will explain the different ways with screenshots to Unlock PDFs and Remove Password From PDF files to avoid the inconvenience of remembering the passwords:

Most PDFs, such as bank statements, phone bills, etc., are often password-protected to secure the private and sensitive data that they contain. Trying to remember these passwords every time you want to check them is a big hassle, especially if you want to forward them to someone like your CA for filing tax returns.

To avoid the nuisances of remembering and telling the password time and over again, you can remove the passwords from PDF files. But even to remove the password from your PDF file, you must know the password first. That being said, we have selected the top 5 ways to unlock PDF files.

How To Unlock PDF Files

How To Remove Password From PDF

You can use a little trick to remove the password from the PDF file if it doesn’t have any printing restrictions. Open your PDF in a browser, type the password, and click on the print icon. Under the Destination option, select Save as PDF, and pick the name of your PDF and a location to save it. Voilà! Your PDF file is password-free.

However, this PDF unlock trick doesn’t work on all documents. So, you can rely on the below explained 5 tools to be your knights in shining armor any time you are stuck with a nagging PDF that keeps asking for a password every time you try to open it.

Suggested Reading =>> Complete review of Wondershare PDFelement

Methods to Remove Password from PDF

#1) LightPDF

Price:

  • Free Web App Edition
  • Personal: $19.90 per month and $ 59.90 per year
  • Business: $79.95 per year and $129.90 per year

LightPDF is a cross-platform PDF editor/converter that is excellent at both encrypting and decrypting a PDF file. Besides protecting and unprotecting a PDF file, you can also use LightPDF to convert, edit, compress, and sign a PDF.

You can also use LightPDF to convert a PDF file into fillable forms or an editable document. The software is easy to use and allows users to manage their PDF files in a secure environment.

Here is how you can unlock PDF files using LightPDF:

  • Launch LightPDF on your system.
  • Select ‘Unlock PDF’ from the PDF Tools drop-down menu.
LightPDF - Unlock PDF

  • Upload the document you wish to decrypt and hit ‘Unlock PDF’.
Unlock PDF

  • After the decryption is finished, simply download the file to your system.

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#2) PDFelement

Price: Free

There’s a lot you can do with PDFelement for handling PDF documents. You can convert PDF to other file formats, edit a PDF file, convert it into a fillable form, and, of course, remove the password. It is, in fact, one of the best PDF unlocker tools you will come across.

If you rely on apps for your work, this is the best one you can have for everything you want to do with your PDF files.

Here is how you can unlock PDF files:

  • Download and install PDFelement.
  • Launch the application.
  • Click on Open Files.
Open Files

  • Navigate to the PDF file you want to remove the password from.
  • Select the file.
  • Click Open.
  • Enter the Password.
Enter the Password

  • Click on the Protect tab.
Click on the Protect tab

  • Go to Set Password Option.
Set Password

  • Uncheck the boxes beside Open password and Permission Password.
Uncheck the boxes

  • Go to Files.
  • Select Save As.
Save As

  • Name the document.
  • Select a location.
  • Click Save.

This is one of the easiest ways to unprotect PDF files.

Website: https://pdf.wondershare.com/


#3) Sejda Online

Price: Free

Sejda is the easiest and most pleasant online tool you can use to edit and convert PDFs. It allows you to do a lot with your PDF. You can password protect your file and it also helps you to unlock PDF online easily by following the steps below:

  • Go to the website.
  • Select Tools.
Sejda Online

  • Go to the Security subhead.
  • Click Unlock.
Click Unlock

  • Go to Upload PDF Files.
  • Navigate to the PDF you want to unlock.
  • Select it.
  • Click Open.
  • Enter the password.
  • Click Continue.
Click Continue

  • Click Unlock PDF.
Unlock PDF

  • Click on Download to save the file.
Download to save the file

  • Name your file and select the location where you want to save it.

This is one of the smoothest PDF password unlockers you will come across online.

Website: https://www.sejda.com/


#4) Adobe Acrobat

Price: $14.99/mo

You can use Adobe Acrobat to help you deal with your PDF passwords and restrictions as well. The only thing that can bother you is that it is a premium tool, but it is the best one, nonetheless.

Follow these steps:

  • Download and install Adobe Acrobat.
  • Open the app.
  • Click on File.
  • Select Open.
. Adobe Acrobat

  • Go to the PDF file you want to unlock.
  • Select the file.
  • Click Open.
  • Enter the Password.
  • Click on the lock icon at the left-hand side panel.
  • And select Permission Details.
Select Permission Details

  • Go to Security Method.
  • From the drop-down, select No Security.
  • Click Ok.
  • Go to Files.
  • Select Save As.
  • Name the file.
  • Select a location to save the file.
  • Click on Save.

Website: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat.html


#5) iLovePDF

Price: Free

iLovePDF is an amazing PDF password remover. With this website, you can not only convert your PDF to other file folders or edit PDFs, but you can also password-protect your file or remove its password.

Here is how you can remove password from PDF:

  • Go to the website.
  • Select Unlock PDF.
 Unlock PDF

  • Click on Select PDF Files.
Select PDF Files

  • Go to the file you want to unlock.
  • Click on the file.
  • Select Open.
  • Click on Unlock PDF.
Unlock PDF

  • Enter the Password.
  • Select Send.
Select Send

  • Wait for it to unlock your PDF.

When the PDF is unlocked, it will automatically open the download window, name your file and pick a location to save it, then click on Save. That’s how you can unlock PDF files with iLovePDF.

Website: https://www.ilovepdf.com/


#6) Smallpdf

Price: Free

Small PDF is an amazing website you can use to convert PDFs to other file formats, merge them, edit them, e-sign them, compress them, and even remove the password protection from them.

Follow the steps below:

  • Go to the website.
  • Click on See All PDF Tools.
See All PDF Tools

  • Select Unlock PDF.
Select Unlock PDF

  • Click on Choose File.
Click on Choose File

  • Go to the file you want to remove the password from.
  • Click on the file.
  • Select Open.
  • Check the box saying you have the right to edit the file.
  • Click on Unlock PDF.
Unlock PDF

  • Enter the password.
  • Click on the Really Unlock option.

That’s how to remove passwords from Windows 10 PDF files.

remove passwords from a Windows 10 PDF file

  • Select Download.
  • Name the file.
  • Pick a location to save the file.
  • Click Save.

Website: https://smallpdf.com/


Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I remove passwords from a PDF document?

Download and install PDFelement. Launch the app and open the PDF you want to remove the password from by entering the password. Go to the protect tab, click on the set password option, and uncheck the boxes beside Open password and Permission Password. Save the file.
You can also use Sejda’s unlock PDF tool to remove the password from your PDF file.

2. Can you unlock a PDF?

Yes, you can. Use Smallpdf or Sejda websites for unlocking your PDF. Go to all tools and select Unlock PDF. Open the file, enter the password, and click on unlock PDF. When the file is unlocked, save it on your device.

3. How do you unlock a PDF signature?

Open your password-protected file in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and click on the lock icon on the left-hand side panel. Select permission details click on security methods and select no security. Click Ok and save your file.

4. How do I convert a PDF to a password-protected PDF?

Go to the website of Sejda or Small PDF. Click on the All Tools option and select Protect PDF. Set the password to your file and save it on your device.

5. How can I remove the password from the PDF file in Mobile?

You can use the PDF Utils app on your Android device to remove passwords from the PDF file. Launch the app open the file and enter the password and click OK. Open the file from the original location without the password.

6. What to do if PDF is locked?

If a PDF is locked, enter the password to open it. If you want to remove the password from the file, use programs like Smallpdf to make your PDF password-free.

7. Can you password-protect a PDF in Adobe Reader?

Yes, you can. Open the PDF file you want to password-protect in Adobe Reader. Go to the tools sidebar and click on the shield icon. Click on the project using the password option. Put in the password and save the file.

8. How do you make the PDF file not copied?

First, create the PDF in Acrobat like you usually do. When you have created the PDF, click on the Tools, go to Protection, and select Encrypt. Click on encrypt with a password and select yes when prompted. Now go to the compatibility option from the drop-down menu and click the button next to Encrypt All Document Contents.
Now, check the box beside Restrict Editing and Printing of the Document and type a password. Uncheck the box beside the Enable Copying Of Text, Images, And Other Content option. Now click on OK and save your file. Your PDF can not be copied now.

9. How do I Password Protect a PDF in Google Chrome?

Launch Chrome and open the Sejda website. Go to the Security section and select Protect. Click on Upload PDF Files for uploading the PDFs you want to password-protect. Now, type a password and click on Encrypt PDF.
When the document is processed, you can download the file or share it. You can also use the websites Smallpdf and iLovepdf for password-protecting your PDF in Google Chrome.
Also, Read =>> Methods to fix PDF not opening in Google Chrome


Conclusion

It’s really difficult to keep entering the password time and over again to open a file and remembering them all is a hassle in itself.

Further Reading =>> Review of the Top PDF Editors

You can use Smallpdf or Sejda to remove password protection from PDF files. They are easy to use and have a simple user interface. You can also use PDFelement if you want an app for unlocking your PDF file easily and smoothly.

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