4 Ways to Remove a Password from PDFs

Forgot the password or just tired of typing it? Learn how to remove security from a PDF file you own.

Unlocked padlock icon

4 Ways to Remove a Password from PDFs

Password protection is great for security, but it can be annoying if you need to open the same file ten times a day. If you are the owner of the file (and you know the password), you can permanently remove the security to make it a standard PDF again.

Note: These methods require you to know the current password. We are not covering how to “crack” a file you don’t have permission to open.

1. Using Google Chrome (Easiest)

  1. Drag the PDF into a Chrome browser window.
  2. Enter the password to open it.
  3. Click the Print icon.
  4. Change the destination to “Save as PDF”.
  5. Click Save. The new file will be an unprotected copy of the original.

2. Using Adobe Acrobat Pro

  1. Open the PDF in Acrobat Pro and enter the password.
  2. Click the Lock icon in the left pane or go to File > Properties > Security.
  3. Change “Security Method” to No Security.
  4. Save the file.

3. Using Preview (Mac)

  1. Open the PDF in Preview and enter the password.
  2. Go to File > Export as PDF.
  3. Save it with a new name. The new file will be unlocked.

4. Using “Print to PDF” (Windows)

Similar to the Chrome method, you can use any PDF viewer.

  1. Open the file.
  2. Select Print.
  3. Choose “Microsoft Print to PDF” as the printer.
  4. Print the file. The resulting PDF will have the password stripped (but interactive elements like bookmarks might be lost).

Conclusion

Removing a password from your own files can streamline your workflow. Just remember to keep the file in a secure location if it contains sensitive data.

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