How to remove a password from a PDF file

A PDF file is a kind of electronic file that contains all the elements of a printed document that you can view, print or share with someone else. PDF stands for Portable Document Format. PDF files are created using Acrobat or similar products and are commonly used to create magazines, brochures, e-books, spreadsheets, and other similar documents where the creator wishes to maintain the format of 'origin.

Some PDF users may need to protect their PDF documents with passwords. Setting passwords restricts certain PDF functionality such as printing and editing.

It is very easy to password protect your PDF to prevent unauthorized access through Adobe PDF editor or third-party software. However, this also means that it can also be cumbersome to remove that password to make the file easily accessible to others. That doesn't mean you can't do it. Let's explore different ways to remove a password from a PDF file.

Types of PDF Passwords

There are two types of PDF passwords: authorization password and document open password. A permission password restricts editing, printing, and copying the contents of a PDF file. Although recipients can still open the file, they will not be allowed to perform said actions without entering the correct password. The second type of password, the document open password, requires the user to enter a password before opening a file.

Third party tools

You can also use third-party tools to remove passwords from your PDF files. Most of these tools are available for free, but we recommend TechJunkie Tools, which is secure and free.

Unlock PDF by TechJunkie

If you find it quite difficult to download and install software to remove PDF passwords, you can process your file online and use our PDF password remover tool. There are many websites that can do this, but we recommend ours because of its simplicity, security, and price (free). Follow these simple steps to unlock your PDF using this online tool.

1. In your browser, go to https://tools.techjunkie.com/pdf/unlock.
   
2. Click on Choose file and upload the PDF file you want to open.
   
3. Once the download is complete, enter a password for your PDF and click Okay. Your file should be ready in seconds.
   
4. Download as soon as processing is complete.
   

Remove PDF Passwords Using Google Chrome

If you want a free tool from a trusted publisher to help you remove the password on the PDF file, Google Chrome ranks at the top of the list. This especially applies if you want a tool that works on both Windows and Mac. The web browser has a PDF Writer and PDF Reader, which can be combined to remove a password from a PDF document.

To use it, first drag the password-locked PDF file into the Google Chrome browser. You will be prompted to enter the password set for the file to access the text. Enter this password and click Submit to open it.

Next, move your cursor over the File menu at the top right of Google Chrome and select Print. Alternatively, you can click Ctrl + P if you are using Windows OS or Cmd+P on iOS. Select " Save as PDF as the destination printer. Then press the save button. Your PDF file will now be saved to your desktop with the password removed. This means that the PDF file will not ask you to enter a password when you reopen it in the Chrome browser.

Another option, especially if Google Cloud Print is enabled on your computer, is to select the destination as "Save to Google Drive". A password-free version of your PDF file will be saved to Google Drive from the Chrome browser.

Using Adobe Acrobat

The authorized way to get rid of a PDF password is through the Adobe Acrobat Pro tool. You can download a 30-day trial version of the software to help you do this without the need to install third-party apps. A full version of Adobe Acrobat Pro software is available if you need to use its other features.

To get started, open the password-protected PDF document using Adobe Acrobat Pro and enter the user password. Once you have gained access, remove the user password as well as the owner password. The owner password is used to "change permissions" for the PDF file, such as editing, commenting, printing, copying, and other content changes.

On the main Adobe Acrobat user interface, click the lock icon on the left side of the window and click "Permission Details". You can also click File > Properties and click the "Security" tab.

Click the "Security Method" box, then select "No Security" from the options. Click "OK" to remove the password and save the document to apply the new changes.