How To Remove A Password From A Pdf | 6 Pro Methods

PDFs with password protection are commonly used to secure sensitive information, ensuring that only authorized users can access or modify the content. However, there are times when you may need to remove the password for easier access, editing, or sharing. 

Whether you’ve forgotten the password or simply need to bypass restrictions, a common query will always be right is how to remove a password from a PDF. 

Luckily, there are various methods available. The most effective options include using professional software, secure online tools, or advanced password recovery services. 

Each method offers a balance of security and convenience, allowing you to choose the best approach based on your specific needs.

What Is a PDF Password Actually?

A PDF password is a security feature used by PDF-creating software to protect documents from unauthorized access and modifications. There are two types of passwords-

• The open password and 

• The permission password. 

The open password restricts who can open and view the document, requiring users to enter the password each time they wish to access it. 

The permission password, on the other hand, controls what actions users can perform on the document, such as copying, editing, printing, commenting, signing, or extracting pages. 

By using these passwords, the original user can control access and protect the contents from unwanted changes or views.

How To Remove A Password From A Pdf: 6 Expert Methods

Method 1: Using Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to remove a password from a PDF file, provided you have the correct password. This process requires just three straightforward steps. Here’s a detailed guide on how to remove a password from a pdf for free:

Step 1: Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader

Launch Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer and open the password-protected PDF. When prompted, enter the correct password to unlock the file. 

You must do this first to gain access to the document and begin the decryption process.

Step 2: Navigate to the 'Remove Security' Option

Once the PDF is open, go to the Tools menu in the top bar. Select Protect, then choose Encrypt, and finally click Remove Security. 

This will open a prompt asking you to confirm the action and enter the password again.

Step 3: Confirm and Save the Unlocked PDF

After entering the password, click OK to confirm the removal of the password protection. Then, save the document by clicking File > Save to store the unlocked version. 

You can now open the PDF without a password.

Method 2: Using Adobe Acrobat Pro

Adobe Acrobat Pro, a paid version of Adobe’s PDF software, offers advanced tools to remove password protection from PDFs. 

Follow these steps to know how to remove a password from a PDF in Adobe Reader Pro:

Step 1: Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro

Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro and open the password-protected PDF file. You will be prompted to enter the correct password to unlock the document. Enter the password to gain access to the PDF.

Step 2: Access the Security Settings

Once the document is open, click the Lock icon on the left side of the file. Alternatively, you can go to the File menu, select Properties, and then click on the Security tab. Here, you will see the security settings for the document.

Step 3: Remove the Pssword and Save

In the Security Method box, choose No Security and click OK. 

This will remove the password protection from the PDF. Next, go to File > Save Changes to save the unlocked version of the file, now free from the password.

Method 3: Using the Print-to-PDF Trick

The Print-to-PDF trick is a simple method to remove a password from a PDF, provided the file doesn’t have printing restrictions. 

This process involves re-saving the PDF as a new file without the password protection.

Step 1: Open the PDF and Enter the Password

Open the password-protected PDF in your preferred PDF viewer or browser. When prompted, enter the password to unlock the document and gain access to its content.

Step 2: Open the Print Menu

Once the PDF is open, access the Print menu. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac), or by selecting Print from the File menu.

Step 3: Save as PDF and Confirm

In the Print dialog, choose Save as PDF or a similar option under the Destination section. After selecting it, click Save and give your file a new name and location. The new PDF will not require a password for access.

Method 4: Online PDF Password Removers

When you need to quickly remove a password from a PDF, online PDF password removers offer a convenient solution. 

These platforms allow you to unlock your document without the need for specialized software. It offers fast and accessible options for all users. Know how to remove password from a pdf file online:

1. Wondershare PDFelement

Wondershare PDF Password Remover is a dedicated tool for batch processing PDFs and removing passwords. It’s perfect for handling multiple files at once. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Launch Wondershare PDF Password Remover

Open the Wondershare PDF Password Remover application. Click the "Add Files" button to import the PDF files you want to unlock. You can upload single files or multiple files in batches.

Step 2: Enter the Password for Locked PDFs

Look for a Lock icon in the "Item" column next to the files that are password-protected. Files with the lock icon will require the open password first. Enter the correct password when prompted.

Step 3: Start the Password Removal Process

Select the files you want to unlock and click the "Start" button. Wondershare PDF Password Remover will begin removing the password from the selected PDFs. Once finished, you can save the unlocked files to your device.

2. HiPDF

HiPDF is a strongly encrypted PDF password remover that allows you to easily remove the password from a PDF. Here is how to remove a password from a pdf without knowing the password:

Step 1: Upload the PDF to HiPDF

Go to the HiPDF - Online PDF Password Remover page. Click Upload PDF file and select the password-protected PDF you want to unlock from your device.

Step 2: Enter the Password

Once the file is uploaded, you will be prompted to enter the correct password for the document. After entering the password, click the Unlock button to begin the decryption process.

Step 3: Download the Unlocked PDF

After the password is successfully removed, you’ll be presented with a Download button. Click it to save the newly unlocked PDF to your local drive. You can also share the PDF directly if needed.

3. LostMYPass 

If you’ve forgotten the password to your PDF, LostMyPass can assist you in recovering it. While this service doesn’t directly remove Owner Passwords (Permissions Passwords), it can easily help recover and remove the User Password. 

Here’s how to remove a security password from a pdf document:

Step 1: Upload the PDF to LostMyPass

Go to the LostMyPass website and upload your password-protected PDF. The site can handle PDFs up to 100MB in size. 

Once uploaded, follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the password recovery process.

Step 2: Recover the User Password

LostMyPass will first attempt a free check for weak passwords, which succeeds around 22% of the time. If this doesn’t work, you can opt for a more advanced, paid password recovery service, which uses advanced methods to search over 20 billion password combinations. 

Depending on the complexity of the PDF's encryption, the recovery process could take anywhere from 10 minutes to 24 hours.

Step 3: Remove the Password

Once the User Password is successfully recovered, you can use the PDF Password Remover tool on the website to remove the password protection. The password is now removed, and the file is accessible without restrictions.

4. Online2PDF

Online2PDF is a free, easy-to-use online tool that allows you to remove password protection from a PDF file. It also offers other features like merging, splitting, and converting PDFs. 

Here’s how to remove a password from a password protected pdf:

Step 1: Upload the PDF File

Go to the Online2PDF website and click on Select files to upload the password-protected PDF from your device. 

You can drag and drop your file directly into the upload area. The tool allows files up to 150 MB, and you can upload up to 30 files at once.

Step 2: Enter the PDF Password

Once your file is uploaded, you will be prompted to enter the correct password for the document. After entering the password, the tool will begin processing the file and removing the password protection.

Step 3: Download the Unlocked PDF

After the password is removed, click Convert. The website will unlock the PDF and allow you to download the new, password-free version. Your PDF will now be accessible without requiring any passwords.

5. PDF24Tools 

PDF24Tools offers an easy-to-use, online tool for removing PDF password protection. This service is free, works in all browsers, and doesn’t require any software installation. Here’s how to remove password protection from a pdf document using PDF24Tools:

Step 1: Upload the PDF File

Go to the PDF24Tools website and click on Select files to upload your password-protected PDF. You can also drag and drop the file directly into the upload box.

Step 2: Enter the Password

After uploading the file, the tool will prompt you to enter the correct password for your PDF. This allows the system to decrypt and remove the password protection from the document.

Step 3: Download the Unlocked PDF

Once the password is removed, click Download to save the new, unlocked PDF file to your device. You can now access and edit the document freely.

Method 5: Using Google Docs

If the PDF has weak encryption, you can use Google Docs to remove its password protection. Google Docs allows you to upload the PDF and re-save it without the password, but be aware that the layout might change slightly.

Here is how to remove a password from PDF document using Google DOCS:

Step 1: Upload the PDF to Google Drive

Go to Google Drive and upload the password-protected PDF. Simply drag and drop the file into your Drive or use the New button to select File Upload and choose your PDF.

Step 2: Open the PDF with Google Docs

Right-click the uploaded PDF file in Google Drive and select Open with > Google Docs. You will be prompted to enter the password to unlock the document before it opens in Google Docs.

Step 3: Resave the PDF without a Password

Once the PDF opens in Google Docs, go to File > Download > PDF Document (.PDF). This will save the document as a new PDF on your computer, free from the password protection. 

Keep in mind that the file layout may be altered slightly when opened in Google Docs.

Method 6: Remove a Password from a PDF Using Terminal

If you're comfortable using the Terminal on your Mac, you can easily remove a PDF password using a command-line tool called qpdf. Know how to remove a password from a PDFfile using terminal:

Step 1: Install Homebrew

First, you need to install Homebrew, a package manager for macOS, if you don’t already have it. Open Terminal and enter the following command:

Pay attention to the output, and if you see a message like “Warning: /opt/homebrew/bin is not in your PATH”, follow the instructions provided by Terminal.

Step 2: Install qpdf

Once Homebrew is installed, use it to install qpdf, a tool that helps remove PDF passwords. Enter the following command:

Wait for the installation to complete before moving to the next step.

Step 3: Remove the Password from Your PDF

After qpdf is installed, use the following command to decrypt your PDF:

Replace:

• YOUR-PASSWORD with the password of your PDF.

• input.pdf with the path to your PDF file (you can drag the file into Terminal to get the exact path).

• output.pdf with the path where you want the unlocked PDF to be saved.

Once the process is complete, check the output.pdf to confirm it is unlocked and accessible without a password.

How To Remove a Password From a PDF on a Mac?

Want to know how to remove password from a pdf file on Mac?  For Mac users, Preview is a quick and easy way to remove a password from a PDF. 

This method works well if you just need to unlock the document without any special editing features. Here's how to remove a password from a Pdf Mac:

Step 1: Open the PDF in Preview

Double-click on the password-protected PDF to open it in Preview. When prompted, enter the correct password to unlock the document.

Step 2: Export the PDF

Go to File > Export. In the Export window, make sure the Format field is set to PDF. This will allow you to save a copy of the PDF without the password.

Step 3: Save the Unlocked PDF

Under Permissions, ensure the necessary boxes are checked to remove restrictions. If prompted, create a new Owner Password to secure the document if you wish. 

Click Apply and then save the new unlocked file. You can either overwrite the original or save it with a new name. Hope you are cleared now on how to remove a password from a pdf in preview.

Is It Legal To Remove A Password From a PDF?

The legality of removing a password from a PDF depends on the circumstances and local laws. If you own the document or have explicit permission from the document owner, it is generally legal to remove the password for personal or professional use. 

However, bypassing PDF protection without authorization may violate copyright laws, intellectual property rights, or terms of service agreements. 

In many cases, removing a password from a PDF without consent could be considered illegal. Particularly if the document contains sensitive or proprietary information. 

Always ensure that you have the necessary rights or permission before attempting to remove a PDF password.

What Is The Purpose Of Removing The Password From PDF

Removing a password from a PDF can be essential in many situations. Whether you’ve forgotten the password, need to share the document freely, or wish to modify the file without restrictions. 

There are several key reasons why you might need to know how to remove a password from a PDF, depending on your needs.

1. Ease of Access

Removing the password allows anyone with the file to open it without entering the password each time. 

This can be a real time-saver, especially when sharing documents with others who may not have the password or if you’ve forgotten it yourself.

2. Editing and Modifications

A password-protected PDF can limit your ability to edit, copy, or make other changes. By removing the password, you can fully control the file, allowing you to edit text, add annotations, or merge it with other documents when necessary.

3. Sharing and Collaboration

When you need to collaborate or share documents with others, password protection can be a hindrance. 

By removing the password, you can make the document easily accessible to everyone involved, improving workflow and making collaboration much smoother.

4. Printing Restrictions

Some PDFs have printing restrictions to prevent unauthorized copies. Removing the password lifts these restrictions, so you can print the document freely. 

This is especially helpful if you need physical copies for meetings or presentations.

5. Simplified Archiving and Storage

If you plan to store or archive a PDF for long-term access, removing the password can prevent future access issues. 

This makes it easier for you to manage and retrieve the file, ensuring it’s always available when you need it.

Professional Suggestions on How to Remove A Password from a PDF

• Opt for trusted software, like Adobe Acrobat Pro, to remove the password if you have the correct credentials.

• Consider using secure, privacy-respecting online services to remove the password quickly.

• If the password is forgotten, use a professional password recovery service that provides secure, advanced recovery methods.

• For advanced users, command-line tools can efficiently remove passwords and allow batch processing of multiple PDFs.

• If you’ve forgotten the password, try to recall any common passwords or patterns you might have used, such as dates or names.

• Only attempt to remove a password if you have legal access to the document, such as ownership or explicit permission.

• Before making any changes, always create a backup of the original file to prevent data loss during the password removal process.

• When removing a password, ensure the process is done securely, especially with sensitive or confidential documents, to prevent unauthorized access.

In Closing 

Still wondering how to remove a password from a PDF. We bet now! 

Removing a password from a PDF is a practical solution when you need greater accessibility, editing freedom, or ease of sharing. Whether you opt for professional software, secure online tools, or password recovery services, each method comes with its own set of advantages. 

It’s essential to choose the most appropriate method based on your specific situation, considering factors such as security, convenience, and legality. 

Always ensure that you have the proper rights or permission to remove the password, especially when dealing with sensitive or proprietary documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you remove password protection from a PDF?

You can remove password protection by using various methods, such as trusted software, online tools, or password recovery services, provided you have the correct password or proper authorization to unlock the file.

How do I disable the password on a PDF document?

To disable a password on a PDF, open the document with the correct password, then remove the security settings via the software’s security options, saving the file without a password.

How can I remove a password from a PDF without Adobe?

You can use free online tools or alternative software to remove a password from a PDF. Many online platforms allow you to upload your file, enter the password, and download an unlocked version.

How do I remove password protection from a file?

To remove password protection, you need the correct password to unlock the file. Once unlocked, you can disable the password using the appropriate software or online service.

How do I remove password protection from a PDF transcript?

To remove password from a PDF transcript, use software or online tools that support password removal. Enter the correct password to access the file, then save it without the password.

How do you remove content from a PDF?

You can remove content from a PDF using PDF editing software. These tools allow you to delete text, images, and other elements, then save the modified version of the file.

How do I edit PDF files?

To edit a PDF, use PDF editing software or online tools. These allow you to make changes to text, images, and pages, including adding annotations or filling forms.

How do I turn a PDF into an editable document?

You can turn a PDF into an editable document by using PDF converters or OCR software, which extracts the text from the PDF and allows you to edit it in programs like Word or Excel.

Is there a free PDF editor without login?

Yes, there are free PDF editors available online that don’t require you to log in. These editors allow you to make basic edits like adding text or annotations without any account setup.

How to remove a password from a PDF without a password?

If you don’t have the password, your best option is to use a password recovery service or brute-force tools. These methods can recover or bypass the password, but they may take time and depend on the document's encryption strength.

How to remove a password from a PDF without Adobe Pro?

You can remove a PDF password using free online tools or alternative software. Many platforms allow you to upload the document, enter the password once, and then download the unlocked version without needing Adobe Pro.