Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser

Remove the password from a PDF.

Already know the password that opens a PDF, but tired of typing it in every time? This free unlock PDF tool removes it for good — enter the password once here and get back the exact same file, fully unlocked, without sending the file anywhere.

Not uploaded — nobody sees it Password never leaves this tab No watermark, ever No subscription or account

Drop your locked PDF here One file at a time · up to 40 MB

Password that opens this PDF

Your PDF and password are never uploaded — they’re processed right here in this browser tab, on your device. They never reach a server, so we never see them, copy them or keep them.

At a glance

Unlock PDF: quick facts

Remove the open password from a PDF you already have the password for.

Updated 8 October 2026

Price: Free. No sign-up, no watermark.
You need: The PDF’s password. It does not crack or guess passwords.
Result: The same PDF, opening for anyone with no password.
Not supported: Certificate-based encryption.
Privacy: Your PDF and password stay in your browser and are never uploaded.

How it works

How to remove a password from a PDF

Type the password you already use to open the file, and Altto saves a copy that opens without one. The pages themselves aren’t touched.

01
Add your PDF and its password

Drop in the locked file and type the password that already opens it. Nothing is sent anywhere at this point.
02
The password is checked locally

A password-removal engine loaded into this page opens the file with that password, entirely on your device.
03
Save the unlocked PDF

Get back the exact same document — text, images, and layout untouched — minus the password requirement.

Tips

Tips for unlocking PDFs

Unlocking is for files you’re entitled to open, such as your own statements and payslips, when you’re tired of typing the password every time.

Check how the password is madeBanks and employers often build the password from your details, such as part of your date of birth or postcode, and the email that came with the file usually explains the pattern. Passwords are case-sensitive, so check capitals too.
Keep the unlocked copy privateOnce the password is gone, anyone who gets hold of the file can open it. Keep unlocked statements in a private folder, and send the locked original if you need to share one.
Unlock before using other toolsAltto’s other PDF tools, such as Merge PDF and Compress PDF, can’t read locked files. Unlock the PDF here first, then use the new copy with them.
Printing and copying limits go tooSome PDFs also stop you printing or copying text. Those limits are part of the same protection, so the unlocked copy can be printed and copied like any other PDF.

Like every Altto tool, this runs on your device — nothing you add is uploaded. How Altto works

40 MB

is the size the tool is built for. Larger files still work but can be slow, because the whole file is unlocked in your browser’s memory.

Guide

Removing a PDF password: other ways, and what to know

Ways to do this without Altto too, on Windows, Mac and phones, and the things that trip people up.

First: which kind of password is it?

PDFs can have two kinds of password, and they behave differently:

Open password (also called a user password). You can’t see anything until you type it. Banks and payroll systems use this, often built from your date of birth or postcode.
Permissions password (owner password). The PDF opens normally, but printing, copying text, editing or filling in may be blocked, and the app shows “Secured”.

Every method below removes an open password once you type it. Altto’s Unlock PDF also removes permissions-only restrictions without asking for anything.

Google Chrome’s “Save as PDF”

Open the PDF in Chrome and type the password. Then press Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P on a Mac), set the destination to Save as PDF and save. The new copy has no password. The catch: it’s a re-printed copy, so links, bookmarks and form fields can be lost, and it won’t work if the PDF blocks printing.

Preview on a Mac

Open the PDF in Preview and enter the password. Choose File → Export (or Export as PDF), make sure Encrypt is unticked, and save. Preview may ask for the permissions password before it will export a file whose permissions are restricted.

Adobe Acrobat Pro

In the paid version of Acrobat, open the file, go to the protection or security settings, and set security to No Security, then save. The free Acrobat Reader can open protected PDFs but can’t remove passwords.

Comparing the methods

Four ways to remove a PDF password
Method	Free	Keeps links and forms	Removes permissions-only locks
Altto Unlock PDF	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chrome Save as PDF	Yes	No	Only if printing is allowed
Mac Preview	Yes	Mostly	May ask for the owner password
Adobe Acrobat Pro	Paid	Yes	Needs the owner password

Is it legal to remove a PDF password?

Removing the password from your own documents, such as your statements, payslips or files you created, is fine. Removing protection from someone else’s document without permission is a different matter, and may break the terms it was shared under. If a document you need to edit arrives locked, the simplest route is to ask the sender for an unlocked copy.

Forgotten the password?

None of these methods can help without the password. Check the email or letter the PDF came with, since banks and payroll providers usually explain how the password is made up (for example, your date of birth as DDMMYYYY). Otherwise, ask the sender to issue the document again.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What the unlock tool can and can’t do. Looking to turn a locked PDF into a Word document instead? See our guide on converting password-protected PDFs.

What kind of PDF password does this remove?

It removes the password that a PDF asks for before it will open at all (its encryption), once you already know that password. Enter it once and the tool hands back the same PDF with that protection removed for good.

Do I need to already know the password?

Yes. This tool removes protection from a PDF you can already open with a password you have — it doesn't crack, guess, or bypass a password you don't know.

Is my file or password sent anywhere?

No — nothing is ever uploaded. Both the PDF and the password you type are processed entirely inside this browser tab. There's no server involved at all, so there's nothing for Altto to see, copy or keep.

Will the unlocked PDF look any different?

No. The text, images, and layout are untouched — only the password requirement is removed, so the file opens instantly for anyone.

Are there PDFs this can't unlock?

A small number of PDFs use certificate-based encryption or other protections beyond a standard password, and those aren't supported. If the password you enter doesn't match what the file expects, you'll get a clear error rather than a silent failure.

What if I’ve forgotten the password?

This tool can’t help, because it needs the password to open the file. Ask whoever sent the PDF, such as your bank or employer, to send it again or to remind you how their passwords are made up. Many statement passwords follow a pattern explained in the covering email.

Why does it say my password is wrong?

Check capitals, and whether the password includes spaces or leading zeros, such as a date written 01012000. If you copied it from an email, make sure no extra space came with it. A few PDFs use certificate encryption, which no password will unlock here.

Can I put a password back on later?

Not with Altto at the moment, as there’s no tool for adding a password. If you might need a protected copy again, keep the original locked file as well as the unlocked one.

Can I remove a PDF password without knowing it?

Not for an open password: you need it to read the file, and these tools don’t crack passwords. PDFs with only a permissions password (they open normally but block editing or printing) can be unlocked by Altto’s Unlock PDF without typing anything.

Will removing the password change my PDF?

With Altto or Acrobat Pro, no: the text, images, links and form fields stay exactly as they were. Chrome’s Save as PDF makes a re-printed copy, which can lose links and form fields.

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