Can this tool recover a forgotten password?

No. It does not crack, guess or recover passwords. A PDF that requires an open password needs a valid open or permissions password.

Which documents may I unlock?

Use the tool only for documents you are entitled to open. Removing encryption creates a copy that no longer requires a password.

What happens to unencrypted PDFs and incorrect passwords?

Unencrypted PDFs are left unchanged and produce no output. An incorrect password shows a specific message; you can retry using the same selected file.

ToolHub

Unlock PDF

Remove PDF encryption with a valid password, locally in your browser. For documents you are entitled to open; no password cracking or guessing.

Stable

Online

Select or drop PDF

PDF files up to 100 MiB. Files and passwords stay in this browser; neither is saved by this tool.

Use this tool only for documents you are entitled to open. It removes encryption with a valid password; it does not crack or guess passwords.

Password to open or manage the PDF

Enter the open or permissions password. Leave blank only if the encrypted PDF opens without a password. Unencrypted files are detected and left unchanged.

Show password

Passwords support spaces, quotes and Unicode, up to 127 UTF-8 bytes including after Unicode normalization. A wrong password can be retried without selecting the file again.

Remove encryption from a PDF you are entitled to open using its open or permissions password. The tool checks whether encryption exists and whether an open password is needed. Unencrypted files produce no output, and a wrong password can be retried without selecting the file again. Restriction-only encrypted PDFs can be unlocked with an empty password when they already open without one. Processing is local, supports files up to 100 MiB and can be cancelled. This tool does not crack or guess passwords and does not store documents or passwords.

Remove encryption with a valid open or permissions password
Detect unencrypted files without creating redundant copies
Retry incorrect passwords without selecting the PDF again
Handle encrypted files that open without a password
Local Web Worker processing, cancellation and PDF download