Do I need the original password to unlock a PDF?
Yes. For ethical and legal reasons, our tool requires the original password that was used to encrypt the PDF. We do not offer password cracking or bypass services—only legitimate unlocking for authorized users.
Is unlocking PDFs legal?
Yes, if you own the document or have permission from the owner. Our tool is designed for legitimate use cases like accessing your own protected files, editing documents you created, or removing restrictions from files you have authorization to modify.
What happens after I unlock a PDF?
The unlocked PDF will have all restrictions removed: you can edit, print, copy text, add comments, fill forms, and extract pages. The document becomes fully functional without any password protection.
Can you help if I forgot my PDF password?
Unfortunately, no. Our tool requires the correct password to verify authorization. We cannot recover or bypass forgotten passwords. We recommend keeping backups of important passwords or using password managers.
Are my files safe during the unlocking process?
Absolutely. Files are processed through encrypted connections and temporarily stored in volatile memory. They are automatically deleted from our servers immediately after processing. We never store, share, or analyze your documents.
Does this work with all types of PDF protection?
Yes, our tool supports all standard PDF encryption methods including AES-128 and AES-256 encryption, as well as various permission restrictions (printing, editing, copying, etc.) used by Adobe Acrobat and other PDF software.
Will the unlocked PDF look different?
No. The unlocking process only removes encryption and restrictions—it doesn’t alter the content, formatting, images, or layout of your PDF. The unlocked version will be identical to the original in appearance.
Can I relock the PDF after unlocking it?
Yes! After unlocking and making your edits, you can use our “Lock PDF” tool to re-encrypt the document with a new password. This is perfect for workflows where you need to edit and then redistribute securely.
Is there a file size limit for unlocking?
There’s no artificial limit, but very large files (500MB+) may take longer to process. Most standard documents (under 100MB) unlock in seconds. The processing time depends on your internet speed and file complexity.
What browsers are supported?
Our tool works on all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. It’s also fully responsive and works on mobile devices, though very large files are easier to handle on desktop.
