How to Remove a Password From a PDF File

The fastest way depends on what kind of password protects your PDF

PDFs can have two different passwords, and which one you're dealing with changes how you remove it. An owner password (also called a permissions password) restricts what you can do with the file — print it, copy text, edit it — but doesn't stop you from opening it. A user password (or document password) is what stops the file from opening at all until you type it in. If your PDF won't open without a password, you have a user password. If it opens but won't let you copy or print, you have an owner password.

Removing an owner password is straightforward on most devices. Removing a user password is harder and depends on whether you remember the password or not. If you set the password yourself or have it written down, you can remove it in minutes. If you don't have the password, there's no legitimate way to remove it — the encryption is designed to prevent that.

Key Takeaways

Owner passwords (which block printing or copying) can be removed using free PDF tools like iLovePDF, Smallpdf, or Preview on Mac without needing the password.
User passwords (which block opening the file) require you to know the password to remove it — there is no way around this if you don't have it.
If you remember the password, you can remove a user password by opening the file in Adobe Acrobat Pro, going to File > Properties > Security, and choosing "Remove Security".
Online PDF tools work on any device but upload your file to their servers, so use them only for PDFs that aren't sensitive or confidential.
If you own the PDF and forgot your own password, contact whoever created it or check your password manager for the original password you used.

Removing an owner password using free online tools

If the PDF opens but won't let you print, copy text, or edit it, an owner password is blocking those actions. You can remove this without knowing the password using free websites. iLovePDF (ilovepdf.com), Smallpdf (smallpdf.com), and PDF Candy (pdfcandy.com) all have an "Unlock PDF" or "Remove Protection" tool. Upload your PDF to the site, click the unlock button, and download the unprotected version. The process takes less than a minute.

The trade-off is that your file travels to their servers. If the PDF contains sensitive information — financial records, medical details, or anything you wouldn't want stored on a third-party server — use a desktop tool instead. On a Mac, you can open the PDF in Preview, go to Tools > Show Inspector, click the lock icon, and uncheck "Encrypt". On Windows, Adobe Acrobat Reader (the free version) cannot remove owner passwords, but the paid Adobe Acrobat Pro can.

Removing a user password if you know it

If you have the password that opens the file, you can remove it permanently using Adobe Acrobat Pro. Open the PDF, go to File > Properties, click the Security tab, and select "Remove Security" from the dropdown menu. You'll be asked to enter the password once, and then the file will no longer require a password to open. Save the file and you're done.

If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Pro, some online tools will remove a user password if you provide it. Upload the PDF to iLovePDF or Smallpdf, enter the password when prompted, and download the unprotected file. This is faster than buying Acrobat Pro if you only need to do it once, but again, your file is uploaded to their servers.

What to do if you don't have the user password

If the PDF won't open and you don't know the password, there is no legitimate way to remove it. PDF encryption is designed to prevent access without the password, and no free tool can bypass it. If you see websites claiming they can crack PDF passwords, they either don't work or they're trying to get you to download malware.

If you own the PDF or have permission to access it, your options are limited. Contact the person who created it and ask them to send you an unprotected version or give you the password. Check your password manager (like Bitwarden, 1Password, or your browser's built-in password storage) to see if you saved the password there. If you created the PDF yourself and genuinely forgot the password, you may have no way to recover it — this is by design, to protect your files from theft.

Using Preview on Mac to remove owner passwords

If you're on a Mac, Preview is the simplest tool for removing owner passwords. Open the PDF in Preview, go to Tools > Show Inspector, and click the lock icon at the top of the Inspector panel. You'll see a checkbox for "Encrypt". Uncheck it, and Preview will ask you to save the file. Click Save, and the owner password is removed. You don't need to know the password to do this.

Preview cannot remove user passwords (the kind that stops the file from opening), and it can't remove passwords on PDFs created with certain encryption methods. If Preview doesn't work, try one of the online tools listed above.

Protecting yourself when using online PDF tools

Online PDF tools are convenient, but they store your file on their servers while processing it. Before uploading a PDF to any website, ask yourself whether you'd be comfortable with that company having a copy of the file. Most reputable tools delete files after a few hours, but there's no way to be certain.

If you're removing a password from a sensitive document, use a desktop tool instead. Adobe Acrobat Pro keeps everything on your computer. On Mac, Preview is built in and never sends files anywhere. On Windows, if you have a user password you know, you can use Acrobat Pro or look for open-source desktop tools like PDFtk or QPDF, which run on your machine and don't upload anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove a password from a PDF on my phone?

Yes, using an online tool. Upload the PDF to iLovePDF or Smallpdf from your phone's browser, unlock it, and download the unprotected version. If it's a user password and you know it, some apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader (paid version) can remove it, but most free phone apps cannot.

What's the difference between a user password and an owner password?

A user password stops the file from opening at all. An owner password lets the file open but blocks printing, copying text, or editing. You can remove an owner password without knowing it using free tools. You cannot remove a user password without knowing it.

Is it legal to remove a password from a PDF?

It's legal to remove a password from a PDF you own or have permission to access. It's not legal to remove passwords from PDFs you don't own or don't have permission to modify. If you're unsure whether you have permission, ask the person who created the file.

Will removing a password damage the PDF?

No. Removing a password doesn't change the content, layout, or quality of the PDF. The file will look and work exactly the same, just without the password protection.

What if the online tool says my PDF is corrupted?

The PDF might actually be corrupted, or the tool might not support the encryption method used. Try a different tool like Smallpdf if iLovePDF doesn't work, or use a desktop tool like Adobe Acrobat Pro. If multiple tools fail, the file may genuinely be damaged and you may need to ask the creator for a fresh copy.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.