Unlock PDF
Remove the open password from a PDF you own and download an unlocked copy, entirely in your browser.
About this tool
Unlock PDF
Remove the open password from a PDF you own and download an unlocked copy, entirely in your browser.
Unlock PDF removes the encryption from a password-protected PDF you can already open, producing a copy with no password on it. It decrypts the document using the standard security handler defined in ISO 32000 — RC4 40-bit and 128-bit for older files, AES-256 for PDF 2.0 files — and accepts either the user password or the owner password, exactly as the specification requires. Everything runs in your browser, so the file and the password are never uploaded.
How to use Unlock PDF
- 1
Open Unlock PDF on AltFTool — it loads instantly in your browser.
- 2
Upload or drag in the file you want to work with.
- 3
Adjust the settings and preview the result.
- 4
Download the finished file to your device.
Why use Unlock PDF
Runs entirely offline
The PDF and the password stay in the browser tab; nothing is uploaded to a server.
Both password types accepted
Works with the user password or the owner password, and reports which algorithm was in use.
Original quality kept
Only the encryption layer is removed — pages, text, fonts and images are untouched.
Common use cases
- Strip the password from a bank or salary statement so it opens without retyping a date of birth every time.
- Prepare an encrypted contract for a workflow that cannot handle password-protected PDFs.
- Make an AES-256 protected report searchable in a local document index that refuses encrypted files.
Frequently asked questions
Can this tool open a PDF if I do not know the password?
No. Without the correct password the file encryption key cannot be derived at all, so there is nothing to decrypt. This tool removes protection from files you can already open; it does not guess, crack or recover passwords.
Which PDF encryption types are supported?
RC4 40-bit and 128-bit (encryption versions 1 and 2, revisions 2 and 3) and AES-256 (version 5, revision 6, the PDF 2.0 standard). Files using a custom or third-party security handler cannot be unlocked here.
What is the difference between a user password and an owner password?
The user password is needed to open the document; the owner password controls permissions such as printing and copying. The standard security handler accepts either one to decrypt, so entering whichever you have is enough.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The PDF is read into the browser tab with the File API and decrypted there using the Web Crypto API, so neither the document nor the password is sent over the network. Closing the tab discards both.