Task
Remove password from PDF
If you know the password to a PDF and want to stop typing it every time — or you need to hand the file to someone else without sharing the password — the unlock tool writes out a copy with the password stripped. This isn't password cracking; it's just 'decrypt with the password you already have'.
PennyPDF's unlock tool runs in your browser. Type the password, the file decrypts locally, download the unlocked copy. The password never leaves your machine. We don't log which files pass through; in fact, with a client-side tool, we literally couldn't.
A separate question is owner-password restrictions (print disabled, copy disabled). Many PDFs ship with no user password but an owner password you don't know. The unlock tool handles these too — print/copy permissions are cleared on the output.
How it works
- 1Upload the locked PDF at /unlock.
- 2Enter the password.
- 3The file decrypts in your browser.
- 4Download the unlocked copy.
Frequently asked
Does this crack unknown passwords?+
No. If you don't know the password, we can't help — PDF's AES-256 is not brute-forceable. Tools that claim to crack PDF passwords typically work only on PDFs using the old, weak RC4-40 encryption from the late 1990s.
Print/copy restrictions only, no password?+
The tool detects owner-password-only files and strips the restrictions in one click. No password required on those.
Does my password get sent to your server?+
No. Unlock is 100% client-side. Check the Network tab in your browser's DevTools — you'll see no outbound requests during unlock.
What if I lock the file again after unlocking?+
Use /protect. You can reprotect with a new password or with the same one — both fine.
Is there a legal issue with unlocking PDFs I own?+
In most jurisdictions, unlocking a PDF you legitimately received and have the password for is routine. Unlocking DRM-restricted PDFs you don't own is a different legal question — consult a lawyer.
Why PennyPDF
- No subscription. Ever.
- Coins never expire — use them in 5 years.
- Client-side processing for 14 of 22 tools.
- No watermarks at any tier.
- Per-operation pricing, shown before you click.
- Same coins for web + public API.