or drop a file here · paste with Ctrl+V
PDF · up to 200 MB · nothing is uploaded
Unlocked on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
Checking this file…
Reading the protection flags.
Unlocking…
Your PDF is unlocked
How to unlock a PDF
To unlock a PDF, drop the file in and press Unlock. If the file only restricts printing or copying, that restriction is removed with no password needed. If it asks for a password to open, enter it once — the copy is decrypted in your browser so it opens anywhere without prompting, and the password is never stored or sent.
Add your PDF
Choose a file or drop it in. SailPDF reads whether it needs a password at all.
Confirm, if asked
Restriction-only files unlock straight away. Files with an open password ask for it once.
Download the copy
You get a clean, unencrypted PDF. The original file on your device is untouched.
What Unlock PDF does and does not do
It removes protection from files you can already open — either the printing and copying restrictions, or the password prompt itself. It cannot recover a password you do not know, and it does not crack encryption. Removing protection does not change what is on the pages; it only removes the lock. Password-protected files are decrypted on your device, never uploaded.
Private by design
The file is decrypted in your browser with WebAssembly. Nothing is uploaded and no password leaves your device.
Questions
Do I need the password to unlock a PDF?
Only if the file asks for one when you open it. Files that open normally but block printing or copying need no password at all.
Why would I unlock a PDF I can already open?
Because the copy you have still asks for a password, or blocks printing and copying. Unlocking produces a version you can send, upload or archive without those restrictions.
Can this crack a password I do not know?
No. Removing a password requires the key, which is the password itself. We do not brute-force or bypass anyone’s protection.
What happens to printing and copying restrictions?
They are removed, producing a clean unencrypted copy. The original file is never modified.
Is my file or password uploaded?
No. Decryption runs in your browser using WebAssembly. The password is used once and never stored.
Will the unlocked PDF look the same?
Yes. The pages are decrypted, not re-rendered, so text stays selectable and nothing changes visually.
Is it legal to remove a password?
For a document you own or are authorised to access, yes. Do not use it on files that are not yours.
Why is this page different from other tools?
Encryption needs a browser feature called cross-origin isolation, so this page runs with stricter isolation and carries no third-party scripts or ads.
Read: Password-protecting a PDF properly