How to Remove a Password From a PDF Document

You can remove a PDF password in minutes using free tools or your existing software

If you have a PDF that requires a password to open or edit, you can remove that protection without paying for software. The method depends on what kind of password is on the file — whether it locks you out of opening the document, or just prevents editing and printing. Most PDFs use one or the other, and each removes differently.

The fastest route for most people is a free online tool like Smallpdf or ILovePDF, which takes about two minutes. If you want to keep everything on your computer, Adobe Reader (the free version) can remove some passwords, and so can LibreOffice, which is free and open-source. Windows and Mac both have built-in options too, though they work only in specific situations.

Key Takeaways

A user password (which blocks opening the file) and an owner password (which blocks editing) require different removal methods.
Free online tools like Smallpdf and ILovePDF remove most owner passwords in under five minutes without installing anything.
LibreOffice Draw, a free desktop process, can open password-protected PDFs and let you save them without protection.
If you created the PDF yourself and forgot the password, check your email or password manager before trying removal tools.
Removing a password you do not own is illegal in most places, even if you have the file.

Understand what kind of password is on your PDF

PDFs can have two different passwords, and they do different things. A user password (also called an open password) stops anyone from opening the file at all — you see a dialog box asking for a password before the document appears. An owner password (also called a permissions password) lets you open and read the PDF, but prevents printing, copying text, or making edits. Many PDFs have only one or the other.

Try opening the PDF. If it asks for a password before showing you anything, it has a user password. If it opens but you cannot copy text or print it, it has an owner password. This matters because the removal methods are different — owner passwords are much easier to remove, and user passwords sometimes cannot be removed without the original password.

Remove an owner password using a free online tool

If the PDF opens but you cannot edit or print it, an online tool is the fastest option. Go to Smallpdf.com or ILovePDF.com, find the "Unlock PDF" or "Remove Protection" option, and upload your file. The tool removes the owner password and lets you read the unprotected version in seconds. Both sites are free for one file per day, and neither requires you to create an account.

These tools work because owner passwords are designed to be straightforward to remove — they are meant to prevent accidental changes, not to provide real security. The tool does not need to know the password; it straightforward strips the protection layer from the file. Your PDF is uploaded to their servers, processed, and deleted after read. If you are uncomfortable uploading to the internet, use the desktop method instead.

Remove password protection using LibreOffice Draw

LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that includes Draw, a tool for working with PDFs. read LibreOffice from LibreOffice.org (it is free and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux). Open the process, go to File > Open, and select your password-protected PDF. If it has an owner password, LibreOffice will open it without asking for one.

Once the PDF is open in Draw, go to File > Export as PDF. A dialog box appears with export options. Make sure the "Security" tab is visible, and leave the password fields blank. Click Export, choose where to save the file, and you now have an unprotected copy. This method keeps everything on your computer and works for PDFs with owner passwords. It does not work for user passwords — if the file will not open at all, LibreOffice cannot help.

Try built-in options on Windows and Mac

Windows 11 can open some password-protected PDFs directly in Microsoft Edge. Right-click the PDF, select "Open with," and choose Microsoft Edge. If the PDF has an owner password, Edge may open it without asking for one. Once it is open, use the print function (Ctrl+P or File > Print), select "Print to PDF" or "Save as PDF," and save the file without a password. This works only for owner passwords, not user passwords.

On Mac, Preview (the built-in image and PDF viewer) can sometimes open password-protected PDFs. Open the file with Preview, and if it opens, go to File > Export. In the export dialog, uncheck any security options and save the file. Like the Windows method, this works only for owner passwords. Neither built-in tool is as reliable as LibreOffice or an online tool, but both are worth trying if you already have the file open.

What to do if the PDF has a user password

A user password (the kind that blocks you from opening the file) is much harder to remove because it is meant to be find. If you do not know the password, the free tools and methods above will not work. Your options are limited: contact whoever sent you the file and ask for the password, check your email for the password if someone shared it with you, or look in your password manager if you saved it before.

If you created the PDF yourself and forgot the password, check your email for any confirmation or setup messages from the software you used. Some PDF creators (like Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word) send password reminders. If you cannot find it, you may need to recreate the document. Removing a user password without knowing it is technically possible but requires specialized software and is illegal in most places, even if the file is yours.

Check the legal situation before removing a password

In the United States, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) makes it illegal to remove copy protection from a file you do not own, even if you have the file itself. Other countries have similar laws. If the PDF belongs to you or you have permission from the owner, removing the password is legal. If it belongs to someone else and they password-protected it, removing that protection without permission is not legal.

The practical difference: if you created the PDF, forgot the password, and want to remove it, that is fine. If someone sent you a password-protected PDF and you want to remove the protection without asking them, that is not. When in doubt, contact the person who sent you the file and ask them to send an unprotected version or provide the password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove a password if I do not know what it is?

It depends on the type. Owner passwords (which block editing and printing but not opening) can be removed without knowing the password using free tools like Smallpdf or LibreOffice. User passwords (which block opening the file) cannot be removed without the password or specialized software. If you created the PDF, check your email or password manager for the password before trying other methods.

Is it legal to remove a password from a PDF I downloaded?

Only if you own the file or have permission from the owner. Removing password protection from someone else's file without permission violates the DMCA in the United States and similar laws in other countries. If you need an unprotected version, contact the person or organization that sent it to you and ask them to provide one.

Will removing a password damage the PDF or change its content?

No. Removing password protection does not alter the document itself — the text, images, and formatting stay exactly the same. The only thing that changes is whether the file is locked. The unprotected PDF will look and read identically to the protected version.

Which method is safest — online tools or desktop software?

Both are safe if you use reputable tools. Online tools like Smallpdf and ILovePDF delete files after processing and do not store them. LibreOffice is open-source, meaning thousands of people can inspect the code for security problems. If you are concerned about uploading to the internet, LibreOffice is the better choice because everything stays on your computer.

What if none of these methods work?

If the PDF will not open in LibreOffice, will not open in your web browser, and the online tools do not work, the file likely has a strong user password or is corrupted. Try contacting whoever sent you the file and ask for the password or an unprotected version. If that is not possible, the file may not be recoverable without specialized password-cracking software, which is slow and unreliable.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.