Removing a password from a PDF you own is straightforward once you know the password — it's just a matter of re-saving the file without the protection. If you've forgotten the password, there are still options depending on how the file was originally protected.
How to Remove a Password From a PDF When You Know It
On Mac: Open the PDF in Preview, enter the password when prompted. Go to File > Export as PDF. In the export dialog, click Permissions, uncheck Require password to open document, and click Save. The exported file has no password.
On Windows: Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader (or any PDF viewer that lets you open the file with the password), then print it to Microsoft Print to PDF. The printed output is an unprotected PDF. Alternatively, in Adobe Acrobat Pro, go to File > Properties > Security and change the security method to No Security.
Using Chrome: Open the password-protected PDF in Chrome, enter the password, then press Ctrl + P and save as PDF. Chrome re-exports the visible content without password protection.
How to Remove a Password Using WukongPDF
WukongPDF's PDF Unlock tool removes password protection in one step. Upload the PDF, enter the password when prompted, and download the unprotected version. This is the simplest route if you don't want to go through print dialogs — particularly useful when working on mobile or when you want to share an unlocked version directly after removing the password.
Removing a Password Without Knowing It
If you've forgotten the password, the PDF Unlock tool attempts to recover it automatically for PDFs protected with simple passwords or older encryption standards. Upload the file and let the tool run — it tests common passwords and patterns that frequently appear in user-set PDF passwords.
Recovery works best on short passwords, dictionary words, and numbers-only passwords. PDFs using strong AES-256 encryption with a complex, unique password are unlikely to be recoverable this way. If you set the password recently, think through what you would have used — variations of familiar passwords are often worth trying manually before running an automated recovery.
Removing Owner Password Restrictions Without the Password
Owner password restrictions — which block printing, copying, or editing while still allowing the file to be opened — can often be removed without the password at all. Because these restrictions don't encrypt the file content, tools including WukongPDF's PDF Unlock feature can strip them from files you can already open and view.
This is useful when a supplier, client, or colleague has sent you a restricted PDF and you need to print or copy from it for legitimate work purposes. Once the restrictions are removed, the file behaves like a standard unprotected PDF.
After Removing the Password
Once you have an unprotected version, consider whether you still want to keep the file protected going forward. If so, re-add password protection using a password you'll remember or store securely — WukongPDF's PDF Security tool lets you set a new open password and permissions in one step. This time, store the password in a password manager alongside the file so you never need to go through password recovery again.