Online PDF Password Remover & Unlocker
Can't print, copy, or edit a PDF? Our high-performance decryption engine strips password restrictions in seconds. Upload, unlock, and download — the original file is deleted immediately.
Select Encrypted PDF
or drag and drop it here
Instant password removal, completely secure
Remove Restrictions
Fix "Permission Denied" errors. We strip away the "Owner Password" that stops you from printing, copying text, or merging pages.
Restore Editability
Turn a read-only locked file back into a fully functional PDF. Once unlocked, you can use it with any other editor or converter.
Automated & Neutral
No human ever sees your document. An automated script removes the encryption header, repacks the file, and wipes all data from memory.
The Difference Between "Locked" and "Restricted"
Many users get confused by PDF security settings. It is important to know which problem you are solving, as our tool handles both differently:
Full Lock (User Password)
You cannot even open the file to see the content. It asks for a password immediately.
Requirement: You MUST know the password to use our tool.
Restricted (Owner Password)
You can read the file, but buttons like "Print" or "Edit" are greyed out.
Solution: Our tool can often remove this without a password.
Decrypting a large PDF inside a browser tab is slow and memory-intensive — often causing "Page Unresponsive" crashes. Our backend uses optimized C++ libraries that handle 500+ page documents without breaking a sweat, preserving file integrity throughout the rewrite.
Digital Archiving & workflow
One of the most overlooked reasons to decrypt files is Long-Term Archival. If you store encrypted tax returns or legal docs for 10 years, you might forget the password.
It is a best practice to keep a "Master Copy" that is unencrypted in a physically secure location (like an encrypted hard drive), rather than relying on the file-level encryption which might become inaccessible if you lose the key. Use our tool to strip the encryption before archiving your important records.
Do You Even Need an Online Tool?
We believe in honesty. If you have a simple "Owner Locked" file (where you can open it but not print), you might not need us!
- Open the PDF in Chrome.
- Click Print (Ctrl+P).
- Choose "Save as PDF" as the destination.
- Click Save. The new file often has the lock removed!
- Open the PDF in Preview.
- Go to File > Export as PDF.
- Save it with a new name.
Note: These tricks only work for "Permissions" passwords. If the file refuses to open without a password, you need a powerful decryptor like Editobox.
Important Legal Note
This tool is a Utility, not a hacking device. It is designed to help legitimate owners manage their file permissions.
- ✓Removing restrictions from your own work files.
- ✓Recovering access to legacy company documents (with authorization).
- ✕Attempting to open bank statements that do not belong to you.
When You Need PDF Unlocking
Legacy Document Recovery
Your company has old contracts or reports from 2010 that are locked with a password nobody remembers. The original employee who created them has left the organization.
Solution: If you can open the file (it's only "Owner" locked), our tool removes the restrictions so you can print, edit, or merge it with current documents.
Academic Research Papers
You downloaded a research paper or thesis PDF that prevents you from copying text for citations or highlighting important sections for your own study notes.
Solution: Unlock the file to enable text selection and annotation features. Perfect for students and researchers who need to work with protected academic materials.
Government Forms & Applications
Official government PDFs often come with printing restrictions to prevent tampering. But you need a physical copy for submission or your records.
Solution: Remove the print restriction so you can create legitimate hard copies for filing with authorities or keeping in your personal archive.
Merging Protected Documents
You're trying to combine multiple PDF files into one document, but some of them have "modification" restrictions that prevent PDF merge tools from working.
Solution: Unlock each protected file first, then use our Merge PDF tool to combine them seamlessly into a single document.
Troubleshooting Common PDF Lock Errors
Seeing a confusing error when trying to use a PDF? Here's what each message means and how our tool fixes it.
"This document is protected and cannot be printed"
What it means: The PDF creator set an "Owner Password" that disables the print function. You can view the document, but your printer option is greyed out.
Fix: Upload to Editobox — we remove the print restriction without needing the owner password. Download the clean copy and print freely.
"Please enter a document open password"
What it means: The file is fully encrypted with a "User Password." The content itself is scrambled and cannot be viewed without the correct key.
Fix: Enter the password you know in our tool. We'll decrypt the file and save a new copy with the password requirement permanently removed.
"Editing of this document is not allowed"
What it means: The PDF has a permissions lock that prevents text edits, form filling, or commenting. Common with government forms and official templates.
Fix: Our tool strips the modification restriction. After unlocking, you can edit the document in any PDF editor, fill forms, or add annotations.
"Copying of text from this document is not allowed"
What it means: You can read the PDF but selecting text with Ctrl+C is disabled. This is frustrating when you need to quote a passage or extract data.
Fix: Upload to Editobox. We remove the copy restriction so you can select, copy, and paste text normally. Ideal for researchers and students.
Password Security: What Happens When You Forget?
Forgetting a PDF password is more common than you think. Here's what you need to know about password recovery and when our tool can help:
Scenario 1: You Forgot the "User" Password
This is the password required to open the file. Without it, you cannot view the content at all.
Bad News: If you don't know this password, there is no legitimate way to recover it. Even our tool cannot help because the file content itself is encrypted. You would need specialized password cracking software (which can take days or years depending on password strength).
Scenario 2: You Forgot the "Owner" Password
This password controls permissions (printing, editing, copying). You can open and read the file, but certain actions are blocked.
Good News: Our tool can remove these restrictions without needing the password! This is because the content is already visible to you—we're just removing the "lock" on the features.
Prevention: How to Never Lose Access
- Use a password manager (like Bitwarden, 1Password) to store PDF passwords securely.
- Keep an unencrypted backup in a secure physical location (external hard drive in a safe).
- For business documents, maintain a password registry that authorized personnel can access.
How to Remove a PDF Password: Step-by-Step
Unlocking a PDF with Editobox takes less than 30 seconds. Follow these simple steps:
Upload Your Locked PDF
Drag and drop your password-protected PDF into the upload area above, or click to browse your files. We accept files up to 50MB.
Enter Password (If Required)
If the PDF has a "User Password" (required to open the file), enter it in the password field. For "Owner Password" restrictions (printing/copying disabled), no password is needed — just skip this step.
Click "Unlock PDF"
Our secure cloud server processes the file, strips the encryption headers, and rewrites the PDF without any security restrictions. This usually takes 2-5 seconds.
Download Your Unlocked File
Your clean, unrestricted PDF is ready to download. You can now print, copy, edit, merge, or annotate it freely. The original file is instantly deleted from our server.