Unlock PDF Online

Unlock Your PDF in Six Short Steps

It takes under a minute. Keep the password ready before you begin.

1. 1

   1. Open the Unlock PDF tool

   You will find it just above this guide. Any current browser will do, whether on a desktop computer or a handset, with no app to add.

2. 2

   2. Pick the locked PDF

   Tap Choose file, or let the statement fall onto the dashed box. This page takes one PDF per run.

   Good to know:

   • Only your own browser opens it; no server sees it.
   • Your original PDF is left untouched on your device.
3. 3

   3. Type the password

   Enter the password you use to open the file in the Password box. Capital letters, spaces and symbols must match exactly.

   Common passwords on Indian documents:

   • Date of birth as DDMMYYYY
   • First four letters of your name plus birth year
   • Customer ID or policy number
   • Check the email that came with the file
4. 4

   4. Press Remove password

   The tool opens the PDF with your password and writes a new copy without any encryption. If the password is wrong you see a clear message and can try again.

5. 5

   5. Save the unlocked copy

   The new file downloads with "-unlocked" added to its name. Open it to check: it should open with no prompt and let you print and copy text.

6. 6

   6. Store it sensibly

   An unlocked statement can be read by anyone who gets the file. Keep it in a private folder, and delete it from shared computers when you are done.

No .pdf file to hand? Download a sample PDF file (6.3 KB) and try it.

Try it now

Popular Uses for the Unlock PDF Tool

Locked files of these kinds turn up here again and again.

• Monthly bank statements Remove the date-of-birth lock so a year of statements can be merged into one file for a loan or visa application.
• Payslips and Form 16 Hand your tax documents to an accountant without also having to send the password in a separate message.
• Insurance documents Policy schedules and claim letters often come locked. An open copy is easier to print for a hospital desk.
• Tickets and bookings Some travel and event confirmations are protected. Unlock them so they open quickly at a gate or counter.
• Company reports Take the password off an internal report you own before combining it with other chapters.
• Print-blocked files A PDF that opens but will not print usually has only permission flags. Removing them lets it print normally.
• Copy-blocked text Clear the copying restriction on your own document so you can paste a paragraph into an email.
• Personal archives Keep a searchable folder of old statements that your computer can index without asking for codes.

Unlock PDF for Everyday Users

Tips for Unlocking PDFs Safely

1. Look in the email or SMS that came with the file. Banks usually state the password pattern there.

2. Passwords are case-sensitive. If your name is part of it, try capital letters as well as small ones.

3. Only remove protection from files that belong to you or that you have permission to change.

4. If you must email the unlocked copy, consider adding a new password with the Protect PDF tool first.

5. Keep the original locked file too, in case you ever need proof of what the sender issued.

6. On a shared or office computer, delete the unlocked copy from Downloads when you finish.

7. Open the new file once before you delete anything, to confirm it opens without a prompt.

Further reading

• PDF on Wikipedia Background on the format, including its built-in encryption and permission settings.
• Advanced Encryption Standard The AES cipher that modern PDF protection is built on, and why it cannot simply be guessed.
• Password How passwords work, and why a long, unusual one is much harder to guess.