Unlock PDF
Remove password, encryption, and permission from a PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know the current password to unlock a PDF?
Yes. PDFtiny requires the current user/owner password to decrypt and unlock a protected PDF. This is a security safeguard — tools that claim to unlock any PDF without a password typically use brute-force cracking which is slow and illegal for unauthorized documents.
Why can't I copy text from my unlocked PDF?
Some PDFs have copy restrictions set via owner permissions rather than encryption. Use PDFtiny's Unlock PDF tool with the owner password to remove all permission restrictions, which will enable copying, printing, and editing.
Is it legal to unlock a PDF I received?
Unlocking a PDF is legal when you own the document or have permission from the owner. Removing protection from copyrighted commercial documents without authorization may violate copyright law.
Can I unlock and then re-encrypt a PDF with a different password?
Yes. First unlock your PDF, download it, then re-upload to the Protect PDF tool and set your new password and encryption settings.