How to remove a password from a PDF you own

To remove a password from a PDF you own, unlock the PDF: open it with the current password in an unlock tool and save a new copy without protection. From then on the file opens straight away, without the prompt. You need to know the password, and you should only do this for documents you have the right to change.

Why people unlock their own PDFs

Banks, utility companies, payroll systems and phone networks often send statements as password-protected PDFs. The password is usually something like part of your date of birth or account number. That is sensible for the journey by email, but it becomes a nuisance later:

• you have to type the password every time you open the file;
• some apps cannot merge, compress or print protected files;
• your accountant or family member needs to open it without calling you;
• you want to combine twelve monthly statements into one record.

Unlocking a copy that you keep in a private place solves all of these.

Two kinds of PDF lock

Open password. You cannot see anything until you type it. To remove it, you must know it. There is no legitimate shortcut.

Restrictions (permissions). The file opens freely, but printing, copying text or editing may be blocked. These are set with a separate owner password. Many unlock tools can remove restrictions from a file you can already open, which is useful when your own document will not let you print or copy.

How to unlock a PDF on your phone

1. Open the PDF in an unlock tool.
2. Enter the password when asked.
3. Choose to remove the protection.
4. Save the unlocked copy with a clear name.
5. Open the new file to check it no longer asks for a password.

Keep the unlocked copy somewhere private. Without the password, anyone who gets hold of the file can read it.

Can I unlock a PDF if I forgot the password?

If you have forgotten an open password, the honest answer is usually no. Modern PDF encryption is designed so that only the password opens the file. Tools that claim to "crack" PDFs work by guessing passwords over and over, which only succeeds for weak, short passwords, and often takes a long time.

Better options:

• check the email or letter that came with the file. Banks often explain the password format, such as your date of birth in a set pattern;
• ask the sender to issue a new copy;
• look in your password manager or notes if you protected the file yourself.

When you should not unlock a PDF

It is fine to remove protection from your own statements, your own scans and documents you created. It is not fine to bypass protection on files you have no right to change, such as:

• someone else's private documents;
• paid content, such as ebooks or course material protected by the publisher;
• confidential work files your employer has locked.

If in doubt, ask the person who protected it.

Keep the lock when it is doing its job

Before removing protection, ask where the unlocked file will live. If it is going on a shared family tablet, a work computer or a public cloud folder, the password may be the only thing keeping it private. In that case, keep it locked, or re-protect it with a password you choose and can remember. Our guide on how to password protect a PDF shows how.

What to do after unlocking

Once the file is unlocked, it behaves like any other PDF. You can:

• merge it with other statements into one yearly file;
• compress it for email;
• edit, annotate or fill it in. See how to edit a PDF on Android;
• send it to a printer. See how to print a PDF from your Android phone.

Unlocking PDFs with PDF Burrow

PDF Burrow has an Unlock PDF tool that removes password protection and restrictions from a PDF, using the password you provide. It works on your phone, so your statements are not uploaded to a website. When you need to lock a file again, Password Protect adds a new password.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to remove a password from a PDF?

Removing protection from your own documents, such as your bank statements, is normal. Bypassing protection on documents you do not own or are not allowed to change may break laws or agreements.

Why does my bank statement have a password?

To protect your details while the file travels by email. The bank usually tells you the password format in the email or on its website.

Will unlocking change the content of my PDF?

No. It removes the encryption and restrictions. The pages, text and images stay exactly the same.

Can I unlock several PDFs at once?

Many phone tools unlock one file at a time, because each may have a different password. If they share a password, it is still quick to do them one after another.