Unlock PDF without Password | Remove Password from PDF

Quick Navigation: How to Open a PDF File Without a Password

All in all, we've provided you with 3 methods to unlock PDF without password. The following is a brief overview of each method, click to open PDF without password.

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Hello, do you know how to decrypt an encrypted PDF file without a password? A few days ago, I encrypted an important academic PDF document but failed to record the password. Now I need to access this file, but I can't. Do you know how to open an encrypted PDF without a password?

• If a PDF contains sensitive or confidential content, people might encrypt it to protect the PDF from unauthorized editing, opening, copying, and printing.
• Sometimes, users receive PDF files that require a password to view.
• Usually, you can use a key to decrypt an encrypted PDF document and edit it with ease.

However, this happens quite often; in this scenario, the user forgets the PDF password and cannot open it. Don't worry. This page will show you three of the most common ways to open an encrypted PDF file without password. In addition, a reliable tool to recover lost PDF files is also recommended here.

Primary Task: Recover Deleted or Lost PDF Files

Data Recovery Wizard Pro is a top-rated data recovery tool that helps you recover lost documents in just a few clicks, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, CWK, HTML, and more.

Download the tool Data Recovery Wizard, and follow these three steps to recover your lost data.

Step 1: Choose a location

Select the disk where you lost your PDF/PPT/Word/Excel files, and then click “Scan”.

Step 2: Search for the missing document

Once the scan is complete, click on the "Documents" option on the left panel. You can find your file by sorting by file type or by typing the file name in the search bar. After locating the file, click "Preview" to confirm if it's the one you're looking for.

Step 3: Recover the lost document

Select the desired PDF/PPT/Word/Excel/TXT/ZIP documents and click the “Recover” button to save them to another secure location.

Part 1: How to Unlock PDF without Password on Windows 10/8/7

Without the password, you may not be able to remove it from the PDF. Try all of these methods until you're able to open the encrypted PDF. Check out the table that summarizes the main features of these 3 solutions.

Solution 1: Unlock Encrypted PDF with Adobe Acrobat (Without Password)

Even if the PDF has printing restrictions that prevent it from being printed in other applications, Adobe Acrobat can usually work around them. Here's how:

Solution 2: Remove PDF Password with Free Online PDF Password Remover

When you search for it on your web browser, you'll find many available PDF password remover tools. To prevent any data theft or corruption, choose a tool that has a good reputation and credibility. SmallPDF is a free online service that can help you easily open an encrypted PDF.

Note: We cannot guarantee the safety of the PDF password remover tools mentioned here. To ensure 100% security, we recommend that you opt for a tool you trust first.

Step 1: Visit the Smallpdf website.

Step 2. Click on "Choose File" and upload your Encrypted PDF file.

Step 3. Click “Unlock PDF!” and wait for the processing to finish. Once the password restrictions have been removed from the PDF, download it to your computer to save it. You should now be able to access and open the PDF without a password.

Solution 3: Open/Unlock Encrypted PDF Files with Google Chrome

If a PDF is restricted from copying but allows printing, you can simply print the protected PDF from Google Chrome as you would with a normal PDF, and then copy the text you need from the printed version.

Step 1. Open the protected PDF document.

Step 2: Print the Protected PDF.

Click the “Print” option in the top-right corner of Chrome.

Step 3: Save the Protected Standard PDF File.

Click the "Save" button and name the file to save it. Highlight the text you want to copy, then press Ctrl+C to copy it.

Solution 4: Open an Encrypted PDF with Adobe Reader

Step 1: Find and open your encrypted PDF file. Right-click on it, then choose "Open With."

Step 2. Click on “Choose another app,” and then open your PDF with Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat, and click “OK.”

If Adobe Reader prompts you for a password, enter it as needed. You should now be able to open and view the encrypted PDF file.

Part 2: How to Unlock PDF on Mac Without Password

If you're a Mac user, you can also use a free tool to unlock PDF files. Follow the solutions below to unlock a PDF on MacBook.

Method 1: Unlock a PDF for Free with Preview on Mac

"Preview" is a free tool on Macs used to open, view, edit, and manage image and PDF files. This tool is free, but you will need the password to unlock a PDF. The steps to unlock an owner-password protected PDF on a Mac are as follows:

Method 2: Remove the Password from a PDF on a Mac Using a Web Browser

There's a fairly reliable way to remove a PDF password on a Mac using a web browser. Here's how:

Step 1. Right-click your PDF file and open it with Google Chrome or Safari.

Step 2. Type your password to unlock the file.

Step 3. Press Command-P to open the Print dialog.

Step 4: In Google Chrome, click Save.

Step 5: In Safari, select “Save as PDF” from the dropdown menu.

Step 6: Save the file with a new name.

Now you can access the file without a password. It'll be saved on your device.

"Pack it up"

Hopefully, one of these methods allowed you to open an encrypted PDF without a password. Both Google Chrome and Adobe Acrobat offer secure ways to unlock a PDF without a password, and then you can save it for reuse.

Aside from encryption, you can also protect your PDF files by regularly backing them up. If you don't want to do it manually, you can use scheduled backup software to automatically create daily, weekly, or monthly backups. However, if you accidentally delete a PDF file, there's no need to worry, as you can easily recover lost files with professional data recovery programs.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Open Encrypted PDF Files

Here are some more questions related to opening an encrypted PDF file. If you have the same issue, you can check the answers.

How do I decrypt a PDF file?

1. Open Adobe Acrobat and click "Advanced" at the top of the window. 2. Select "Security" and then click "Remove Security." Click "OK" to confirm and remove the encryption. 3. Acrobat might prompt you for a password. If it does, enter the password and click "OK."

How do I open an encrypted PDF file?

Open an Encrypted PDF File with Adobe Reader:

Step 1: Locate and open the encrypted PDF file. Right-click on it, then choose "Open With."

Step 2. Click on "Choose another app," and then open your PDF with Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat, and click "OK."

If Adobe Reader prompts you for a password, type it in as needed. You should now be able to open and view the encrypted PDF file.

How to upload an encrypted PDF file?

Find a website that allows you to decrypt and upload PDFs. Usually, you can click “Browse” or “Choose File” from the homepage. Use the file browser window that opens to locate your encrypted PDF on your hard drive, then click “Open” or “Upload.”

How do I unlock an encrypted PDF on Google Drive?

1. Upload the encrypted PDF to Google Drive.
2. Double-click the PDF file, enter your password, and tap "OK." Click "Submit."
3. Press "Ctrl + P" to open the Print window.
4. Under "Destination Printer," select "Save as PDF."
5. Download the PDF to your computer.