Unlock PDF - Frequently Asked Questions

The Unlock PDF tool removes the password and permission restrictions from a PDF you are allowed to access. Choose a PDF and the tool tells you what kind of protection it has:

• Opening password: enter the password once, and you get a copy that opens without it.
• Restrictions only: the PDF opens normally but blocks printing, copying or editing. These restrictions can be removed without a password.

The tool checks that the new copy opens without a password and has no restrictions before you download it.

Only if the PDF asks for a password when you open it. Its contents are encrypted with that password, so the correct password is needed. The tool does not guess or recover passwords.

If the PDF opens normally but blocks printing, copying or editing, you do not need a password to remove those restrictions.

No. Unlocking happens entirely in your browser, on your device. Your PDF and password are not uploaded to PDF Lab or sent to anyone else. The password is cleared from the page after unlocking.

Your PDF is uploaded only if you choose to share the unlocked copy as a link, and only after you confirm.

Standard PDF password and permission protection: 40-bit and 128-bit RC4, 128-bit AES and 256-bit AES. Certificate-based encryption and DRM systems (for example, some e-books and paid reports) are not supported. Open those with the software or account they were issued for.

No. Pages, text, images, links, bookmarks and form fields stay the same; only the encryption and restrictions are removed. Because the file is rewritten, an existing digital signature will show as changed. Keep the original if you need the signed version.

Because unlocking runs on your device, the limit depends on your device's memory. It is usually up to 200 MB on a computer, 100 MB on Android phones and in Safari on Mac, and 50 MB on iPhone and iPad. The tool shows the limit for your device.

• The password is wrong. Passwords are case-sensitive.
• The PDF uses certificate-based protection or DRM.
• The file is damaged.
• The file is too big for your phone. Try a computer.

Only unlock documents you own or have permission to change, such as your own bank statements or files you were given the password for. Respect copyright and the wishes of the document owner.

Yes, in current browsers: Safari 15 or later, Chrome 85 or later and Firefox 78 or later. Large files may be too big for a phone's memory; use a computer for those. After unlocking, you can add a new password with Protect PDF.