To unlock a PDF permanently in Acrobat, open it with the current password, choose All tools > Protect a PDF > Set security properties, then remove the password through Security > Change Settings and save. Entering a password lets you read the file; permanent removal also requires changing and saving its security settings.
The short version
- Use Acrobat's security settings when you know the required password.
- Preview on Mac can change which actions require an owner password.
- Printing to PDF makes a separate copy if the app allows PDF output.
- Other editors and online tools offer password removal, with their own limits.
- Use qpdf to write an unencrypted copy from the command line.
- Ask the owner or administrator for help with an unknown password or managed security.
| Method | What it does | Time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrobat | Removes password security | A few minutes | You know the required password |
| Mac Preview | Changes action permissions | A few minutes | You manage the owner password |
| Print to PDF | Makes a new PDF copy | A few minutes | The file opens and permits PDF output |
| Another PDF editor | Removes supported password protection | A few minutes after installation | You already use one of these editors |
| Online tool | Processes an uploaded PDF | A few minutes for one small PDF | You can upload the document |
| qpdf | Writes an unencrypted copy | A few minutes after installation | You are comfortable running commands |
Check which kind of lock the PDF has
A document open password stops you from viewing the PDF until you enter it. A permissions password controls actions such as printing, editing and copying, so being able to read the file does not mean you can change its security.
Decide whether you need to remove the opening prompt or allow a blocked action. Ask the sender for the relevant password if you do not have it, and keep the original until you have checked the saved result.
Remove password security in Adobe Acrobat
Open the PDF in desktop Acrobat and enter its opening password if requested. Select All tools > Protect a PDF, then select Set security properties in the left pane.
Choose the Security tab and select Change Settings. Clear Require a password to open the document to remove the opening prompt, or clear Restrict editing and printing of the document to remove permission restrictions.
Enter the permission password if prompted, then select OK to close the dialog and OK again to confirm. Save the PDF to apply the change, then close and reopen the saved file to check the result.
In the older Acrobat interface, Adobe still documents Tools > Protect > Encrypt > Remove Security. For an opening password, confirm with OK; for a permissions password, enter it in Enter Password and confirm the dialogs.
If the current controls look unfamiliar, check that you are using desktop Acrobat rather than Reader. Do not assume that opening the document in free Reader has removed its password.
Change PDF permissions in Preview on Mac
Open the PDF in Preview and choose File > Edit Permissions to manage its password options. Leave the checkbox for an action selected to allow that action without the owner password, then click Apply to save your changes.
Close and reopen the PDF because Preview's permission changes take effect the next time it opens. If the app allows PDF output from this document, try the printing workflow below and check whether the copy opens without a password. If PDF output is refused, use Acrobat or qpdf with the required password.
Make a new copy by printing to PDF
Open the PDF and supply its opening password before starting. Use this route only when the app allows PDF output from the document, and give the output a different name so you can compare it with the original.
Save a PDF copy on Mac
On a Mac, choose File > Print, open the PDF pop-up menu and choose Save as PDF. Choose a name and location, then save without adding password requirements through Security Options.
Save a PDF copy in Chrome
In Chrome, press Ctrl + P on Windows or Command + P on Mac. Use the PDF saving option in print preview; Google's help calls it Save as PDF.
Save a PDF copy in Firefox
In Firefox, open the menu and choose Print, then set Destination to Save to PDF. Check the preview and select Print to start the PDF output.
Save a PDF copy in Edge on Windows
In Edge on Windows, choose Settings and more > Print > Print using system dialog. Select Microsoft Print to PDF, choose Print, then enter a filename and select Save.
Check that the new copy opens without a password and includes the pages you need. Inspect notes and form entries too, since print settings can control which content is included; keep the original for any features you still need.
Remove the password with another PDF editor
PDF Expert on Mac and mobile
In PDF Expert for Mac, open the file with its password and choose File > Change Password. Select Remove Password to remove the password. In PDF Expert for iPhone or iPad, open it with its password and tap More > Change Password > Remove Current Password.
These commands work only when the password was originally added in PDF Expert. If another app set the password, choose a different method instead of expecting this control to remove it.
Foxit and PDF-XChange Editor
In Foxit PDF Editor desktop, open the PDF and choose Protect > Secure Document > Remove Security. Confirm the security-removal message after checking that you have permission to change the document.
In PDF-XChange Editor, choose File > Document Properties > Security and set Security Method to No Security. Select Yes to confirm, then enter the permissions password and select OK if prompted. Save the PDF, close it and reopen the saved file to check that the relevant password prompt or restriction is gone.
Nitro on Windows and Mac
In Nitro PDF Pro on Windows, choose File > Document Properties > Security, then select Change Settings. Enter the relevant password, remove the password security settings and save the document.
In Nitro PDF Pro for Mac, choose File > Duplicate, then choose File > Save in the new document. Set Encryption to None at the bottom of the save dialog and click Save.
Use an online PDF unlock tool
Choose a desktop method if the document needs to stay off an online service. If uploading is appropriate, use the service's Unlock PDF tool and download the processed file before checking it.
In Smallpdf, upload or drop the locked PDF, enter its password and download the unlocked result. In iLovePDF, upload the document and choose Unlock PDF, then download the processed copy.
In PDF24, select the PDF, enter the password used to encrypt it and press the protection-removal button. Use the download button to save the unprotected file on your computer.
In PDF2Go, upload the file, enter its password, select Set Password and then Start. Its page also uses the label Submit Password, so match the password-submission control shown after your upload.
If you used Safari on Mac, view your Safari downloads to locate the finished PDF. Open that downloaded file and check it before sending it to someone else.
Decrypt a copy with qpdf
Install qpdf using its project's release package or your package manager. On Windows, open Command Prompt in Windows before running the command, and use your actual file paths in place of the example filenames.
For a file with an opening password, run qpdf --password="current-password" --decrypt input.pdf output.pdf, replacing the example password with the correct one. The --decrypt option writes an output file without encryption; it does not discover a forgotten password.
To avoid putting the password in the command itself, save it on the first line of a private text file. Run qpdf --password-file=password.txt --decrypt input.pdf output.pdf, then remove that password file when you no longer need it.
For a PDF that opens without a password but has permission restrictions, run qpdf --decrypt input.pdf output.pdf. The qpdf command does not enforce those restrictions, so use this only on documents you are authorized to change and check the resulting copy.
What to do with a managed work PDF
If the file uses a server-based security policy, ask its policy author or server administrator to change access. An ordinary password-removal workflow is not the right way to change that policy, even when you can view the document.
For a DRM-protected file, contact the issuer for an accessible copy or approved access method. Acrobat's unlock tools do not remove DRM, so repeated attempts with its password controls will not solve that type of protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a PDF password without knowing it?
You normally need a valid opening or owner password for a password-protected file. A PDF that opens without a password but has permission restrictions is different: qpdf can write an unencrypted copy without enforcing those restrictions.
Can Adobe Acrobat Reader remove a PDF password permanently?
Free Acrobat Reader can open a protected file when you provide its password. Permanent password removal requires the appropriate desktop Acrobat features, available through an Acrobat subscription or trial.
Will printing to PDF keep everything from the original file?
Do not assume it will preserve every feature. Check the pages, notes and form entries before using the copy, and keep the original when bookmarks, links or accessibility structure matter.
Is Preview Export as PDF the right Mac method?
Apple documents File > Export > Permissions for setting PDF password protection, and File > Edit Permissions for managing it. For a separate printable copy, follow File > Print > PDF > Save as PDF without adding new security options.
Why does the PDF still ask for a password after I open it?
Entering a password grants access to the file without removing its saved security settings. Remove the relevant password setting and save the change, or open the new output file if you used a copy-making method.