Unlock PDF

Remove editing/printing restrictions from a PDF that opens without a password.

About this tool

Removes editing/printing restrictions from a PDF that opens without a password (i.e. one protected by an owner password, not a user/open password) — entirely in your browser, using a small client-side implementation of the PDF encryption standard (RC4 / AES-128).

How to use it

1. Upload a PDF - the tool checks whether it's protected and whether that protection is removable.
2. Click Unlock PDF.
3. Review the summary, then confirm to download the unrestricted file.

FAQ

Does this crack or bypass a real password?

No. It only removes restrictions from PDFs that already open with no password - the common case where a document is freely viewable but has printing/editing/copying disabled. If a PDF requires a password just to open it, this tool will tell you it can't proceed rather than attempt anything further.

Why did it say the PDF structure isn't supported?

Some PDFs store their internal objects in a compressed "object stream," which can't be read while still encrypted using the lightweight approach this tool takes. You'll get a clear error in that case rather than a corrupted file.

What about AES-256 (PDF 2.0) encryption?

Not supported yet - it uses a different, more involved key-derivation algorithm than the classic RC4/AES-128 handler this tool implements.