Unlock PDF
Remove print, copy and edit restrictions from a PDF you can already open.
- Free
- No signup
- No watermark
- Works on any device
How to unlock a PDF
- 1
Select your PDF
Click Select PDF file or drop it onto the green box.
- 2
Remove restrictions
Click the button to save a copy without permission settings.
- 3
Download
Print, copy and edit the new file normally.
To unlock a PDF, select the file and click Remove restrictions. PDFVerge saves a new copy without the permission settings that block printing, copying or editing. It works on files that open without a password; it does not remove or guess an open password.
What Unlock PDF does
Enables printing
Removes the flag that stops some PDF readers from printing the document.
Enables copying text
Lets you select and copy text that was locked against copying.
Enables editing
Lets other tools, including the ones on this site, change the file.
No password guessing
Files that need a password to open stay protected. We don't crack passwords.
Permissions vs passwords
PDFs can carry two kinds of protection. An open password (user password) stops anyone from viewing the file without it. Permission restrictions (owner password) let anyone view the file but ask readers not to print, copy or edit it. Unlock PDF removes permission restrictions only.
Only unlock documents you have the right to modify. If a file asks for a password when you open it, you need that password; this tool cannot help without it.
Unlock PDF questions
How do I remove restrictions from a PDF?
Select the PDF and click Remove restrictions. Download the new copy, which prints, copies and edits normally.
Can this remove a password I don't know?
No. If a file asks for a password to open, it stays locked. The tool only removes permission restrictions on files you can already open.
Is it legal to unlock a PDF?
It depends on the document and your rights to it. Unlocking your own files, or files you are authorised to edit, is normal. Don't use it to get around protections you have no right to remove.