PDF Passwords: The Two Kinds of Locks and What You Can Unlock

A PDF can have two kinds of locks: a password to open it, and limits on printing, copying or editing. To remove a password you must know it, but a PDF that only limits printing or copying can be unlocked without one, as long as you own the document.

You open a bank statement, a payslip or a school report, and it asks for a password, again. Or you can open a PDF but cannot print it, copy a paragraph or fill in a field. If the document is yours, you can remove those locks and keep a clean copy.

This guide explains the two kinds of PDF protection, how to remove them, and what to do when you have lost the password.

What kinds of PDF locks are there?

A PDF can be protected in two different ways, and they behave differently:

Many documents from banks, schools and employers use an open password. Many forms and e-books use permission limits instead.

How do I remove a password from a PDF?

1. Open Unlock PDF.
2. Click Select PDF file, or drop your locked PDF onto the page.
3. If the file needs a password to open, type it. A PDF that only limits printing or copying is unlocked straight away.
4. Click Download PDF to save a copy without the password or limits.

The work happens in your browser. Neither your file nor your password is sent to our servers. If you want to know why that matters, read Are online PDF tools safe?

What if I forgot the password?

PDFixed cannot remove a password you do not know. A strong PDF password is designed to be impossible to get around, and we never see or keep your passwords, so we cannot recover one for you.

Instead, try:

• Your password manager or the note where you saved it.
• The sender. Banks and employers often tell you the rule, for example your date of birth or the last digits of an ID number. Check the email that came with the file.
• A new copy. Ask the sender or the website to send the document again, or download a fresh copy from your account.

Is it legal to unlock a PDF?

Unlock only files you own or have permission to change: your own payslips, your own scans, files you made yourself, or documents you were allowed to open and print.

Removing the protection from someone else's document without their permission can break the law or the terms they set. If a PDF restricts printing and you are unsure whether you may print it, ask the person who sent it.

Will unlocking change my PDF?

No. The pages, text, images and layout stay exactly the same. Only the password and the limits are removed, so you get a normal copy that opens with no prompt.

Keep the original locked file somewhere safe too, in case you need to prove where it came from.

Should I protect the file again?

If the document holds private information, think before you leave an unlocked copy lying around, especially on a shared computer or in your email. You can lock it again with Protect PDF and a password you will remember. Our guide How to password protect a PDF shows how, including how to block printing and copying.

What else can I do with the unlocked PDF?

Once a file is unlocked, you can use all the other tools on it:

• Compress it so it is small enough to email.
• Merge it with other documents.
• Remove pages you do not need.
• Sign it without printing.

When should I ask an expert?

If a file will not open, comes up with an error, or needs careful handling because it is confidential, our team can help. Ask for a quote and we will tell you the price before any work starts. We can work under an NDA for sensitive files.