Stayput Tools

Unlock a PDF (remove its password)

Bank statements, payslips and exam forms often arrive locked with a password you have to type every time. Enter it once here and save a copy that opens straight away, with every page exactly as it was.

Files stay on your device. Free, with no sign-up.

  1. 1Add a locked PDF
  2. 2Adjust
  3. 3Download

    How it works

    1. Add your PDF. Several files with the same password can be added together.
    2. Type the password. Leave the box empty if the PDF opens freely but will not let you print or copy.
    3. Press Unlock PDF and download the copy without the password.

    When you would unlock a PDF

    Many banks, insurers and employers lock the PDFs they email, using your date of birth, PAN or phone number as the password. That is sensible while the file is in your inbox, but it gets in the way later: other tools cannot read a locked PDF, and you have to type the password each time you open it.

    Unlocking is the first step before you merge, split, compress or convert such a file. Keep the unlocked copy somewhere private, since anyone who finds it can open it.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are my files uploaded anywhere?

    No. Everything happens inside your browser, on your own device. Your files are never sent to a server, and you can confirm that in your browser's network tab. Close the tab and they're gone.

    Can you open a PDF if I have forgotten the password?

    No. This tool removes a password you already know; it does not guess or break passwords. If the password is lost, ask whoever sent you the file, or the bank or office that issued it, to send it again.

    What is the difference between a password and restrictions?

    A PDF can ask for a password before it opens at all. Or it can open freely but forbid printing, copying text or editing. Both are removed here: type the password for the first kind, and leave the box empty for the second.

    Does unlocking change my pages or lower the quality?

    No. The pages are not redrawn, so text stays sharp and selectable, and images are untouched. Only the protection is taken away.

    Which kinds of password work?

    The standard PDF passwords: 40-bit and 128-bit RC4, and 128-bit and 256-bit AES. That covers the files produced by banks, Adobe Acrobat, Word, Chrome and macOS.

    Is it all right to unlock any PDF?

    Only unlock files that belong to you or that you are allowed to open and keep. The tool is meant for removing a password you were given, so you do not have to type it again.

    Is there a file size limit?

    Each file can be up to 100 MB, and up to 300 MB in total. Because the work happens on your device, very large files depend on your available memory. A desktop browser handles them best.

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