Remove PDF Password Online Free: 4 Easy Methods

You password-protected a PDF six months ago. Now you cannot remember the password. Or your colleague left the company and their files are locked. Or you just want to remove the annoying password prompt every time you open a document you use daily.

Whatever the reason, removing PDF password protection is straightforward — if you know the password or if it is only a permissions restriction. Here is how to do it on any device, for free.

Two Types of PDF Passwords

Before we start, you need to know which type of password your PDF has:

• User password (open password): Required to open the file. If you do not know this password, you cannot remove it. No legitimate tool can crack a PDF open password without knowing it — and if one claims to, it is probably trying brute force which takes forever on strong passwords.
• Owner password (permissions password): Controls what you can do — print, copy, edit. The file opens fine, but certain actions are blocked. This is much easier to remove because the encryption is weaker.

The methods below work if you know the password and want to permanently remove it, or if you want to remove permissions restrictions (owner password). They will not crack unknown open passwords.

Method 1: Print to PDF (Fastest Trick)

This is the simplest method and works for removing permissions restrictions. If you can open the PDF but cannot copy, print, or edit it, this trick bypasses the restrictions entirely.

Steps:

1. Open the PDF in Chrome, Edge, or any browser
2. Press Ctrl + P (or Command + P on Mac) to print
3. Change the printer to "Save as PDF" or "Microsoft Print to PDF"
4. Click Print/Save
5. The new PDF has no password or restrictions

This works because the print-to-PDF process creates an entirely new PDF file from the rendered content. The original encryption and permissions do not carry over. It takes about 5 seconds.

Limitations: Form fields, bookmarks, and some interactive elements may not carry over. For plain documents, it works perfectly.

Method 2: Google Chrome Built-in Save

Chrome can remove passwords from PDFs you can already open. This works for both user and owner passwords — as long as you know the open password.

1. Open the PDF in Chrome (drag and drop or Ctrl + O)
2. Enter the password when prompted
3. Click the print icon in the PDF toolbar (or Ctrl + P)
4. Change destination to "Save as PDF"
5. Click Save — the new file has no password

This is functionally the same as Method 1 but specifically useful when you want to remove a password you know. Chrome strips the encryption during the re-rendering process.

Method 3: Mac Preview

Mac users can remove PDF passwords directly in Preview without any additional software.

1. Open the password-protected PDF in Preview
2. Enter the password when prompted
3. Go to File > Export
4. Choose "PDF" as the format
5. Uncheck "Encrypt" if the option appears
6. Click Save — the exported file has no password

Alternatively, go to File > Print, then click the PDF button in the bottom-left corner and select "Save as PDF." Same result.

Method 4: Free Online PDF Unlockers

Several web-based tools remove PDF passwords for free. You upload the file, enter the password (if required), and download the unlocked version.

Recommended tools:

• ILovePDF Unlock: Upload, enter password, download. Handles permissions passwords without needing the password. Free up to 2 files per day.
• SmallPDF Unlock: Similar workflow, clean interface. 2 free documents per day.
• PDF24 Tools: German-based, no file limits, runs everything in the browser. Excellent for privacy.

Privacy note: When you upload a PDF to any online service, the file goes to their servers. For sensitive documents (tax returns, legal papers, medical records), use Methods 1-3 instead. They work entirely on your computer.

When You Do Not Know the Password

If the PDF has an open password and you genuinely do not know it, your options are limited:

• Contact the sender: Ask for the password. Obvious but often overlooked.
• Try common passwords: Company name, project name, the sender's name, dates, "password," "123456." People are predictable.
• Brute force tools: Tools like John the Ripper or hashcat can attempt thousands of passwords per second. This works for weak passwords (under 6 characters) but can take days for strong ones.
• GPU-accelerated cracking: For strong passwords, you need serious computing power. Services like LostMyPass offer this, but costs add up quickly and success is not guaranteed.

If the document is yours and you genuinely forgot the password, try every password you can think of first. Most people reuse a small set of passwords.

How to Prevent This Problem

If you password-protect PDFs regularly, set up a system so you never lose passwords:

• Use a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password) to store PDF passwords
• Use a consistent naming convention: document-name-password
• Save an unlocked copy in a secure location alongside the locked version
• Only password-protect documents that actually need it — most do not

Most PDFs do not need password protection at all. Unless you are sending sensitive information, skip the password. It saves everyone time.