Password-protected PDFs are useful for security, but there are plenty of legitimate reasons you might need to remove that protection — like when a client sends you a locked file that you own and need to edit, or when a forgotten password blocks access to your own document.
Two Types of PDF Passwords
Before removing a password, it helps to know which kind you're dealing with:
- Open password (user password): Required just to open the file. You must know this password before removing it.
- Permissions password (owner password): Restricts editing, printing, or copying. Sometimes removable without knowing it if the open password is absent.
Can You Remove a Password You Don't Know?
If the file requires a password to open, you must know the correct password — there's no legitimate workaround without it. However, if you own the document and have simply forgotten it, recovery tools exist for personal use.
If you have permission to access the file and just want to save an unlocked copy for convenience, read on.
How to Save an Unlocked Copy
Most PDF readers let you print to a new PDF, which strips password protections:
- Open the PDF in your browser or PDF reader (enter the password when prompted)
- Press Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P on Mac) to open the print dialog
- Select "Save as PDF" or "Microsoft Print to PDF" as the printer
- Save — the output file won't have the password restriction
The new file is a fresh PDF without any password applied.
Adding Editing Capabilities After Unlocking
Once you have an unlocked copy, you can open it in Docento.app to add text, signatures, stamps, or annotations — all without ever uploading the file to a server. Your data stays completely private. See our privacy in browser PDF editing guide for details.
How to Add a Password Back
If you want to re-protect the file with a new password, see how to password protect a PDF for step-by-step instructions.
A Note on Legal Use
Only remove password protection from documents you have the legal right to access and edit. Circumventing protection on someone else's document without permission may violate copyright law or terms of service.