Remove a PDF Password
Removes the actual encryption from your file using the genuine qpdf engine, provided you enter the file's correct current password — this tool never attempts to crack or guess an unknown password. Once removed, the file opens in any ordinary PDF reader without prompting for a password. The whole process happens in your browser; neither the file nor the password is ever uploaded to a server.
The password is removed entirely inside your browser — neither the file nor the password is ever uploaded to any server.
Drag a protected PDF here or choose one
One file at a time
What this tool does
Removes password protection from a PDF you already have the password for, giving you a copy that opens without a prompt. It decrypts using the password you supply; it does not break protection and does not guess passwords.
When to use it
- You have the password to a file you open daily and typing it every time has become a nuisance.
- You need to pass the file to another tool — compression, merging, text extraction — that cannot read encrypted PDFs.
- You are moving old documents into storage that is already protected at the drive level, so per-file passwords are redundant.
How to use it
- Drag the protected PDF onto the drop area or choose it.
- Enter the file's current password in the password field.
- Run the removal; if the password is correct, an unprotected copy is downloaded.
A practical example
Input
A PDF that prompts for a password on open, plus the correct password.
Output
A file with identical contents that opens straight away in any reader, with no prompt.
Limitations
- It does nothing without the correct password. This is not a password-cracking tool and it will not open a file you do not have the password for.
- An incorrect password produces a clear "that password is incorrect" message, with no guessing attempted.
- A file that was never protected produces a message saying so, rather than a pointless download.
Privacy and processing
Decryption happens inside your browser. Neither the file nor the password crosses the network, and neither is retained.
Technical notes
- Uses qpdf compiled to WebAssembly — the same engine as the Protect PDF tool.
- The result is an unencrypted copy; your original protected file stays on your device unchanged.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — this tool never attempts to guess or crack an unknown password in any way. You must know the file's current password to remove its protection.