Remove a password from a PDF
Tired of typing the same password every time you open a statement or form? Enter it once here and download an unlocked copy. Decryption runs on your device, not on our servers.
How to remove a PDF password
- Choose the locked PDF. Drop it on the box or click to browse.
- Type the password you use to open it. For files that open freely but won't print or copy, leave the box empty.
- Click Unlock & download. SlatePDF decrypts the file in this tab and saves
yourfile-unlocked.pdf, which opens with no prompt and no restrictions. - Store it safely. The unlocked copy is no longer encrypted, so keep it somewhere private — or re-lock it later with Protect PDF using a password you choose.
Common reasons people unlock PDFs
- Monthly bank, brokerage or utility statements that are protected with your ZIP code or date of birth and need to be archived or uploaded to tax software.
- Payroll stubs and W-2s from HR portals that must be merged into a loan application packet.
- Your own forms, locked years ago with a permissions password nobody remembers, that now need a quick edit.
- Scans from an office copier that encrypts every file by default.
Tips if it doesn't work
Passwords are case-sensitive and spaces count. If a statement's password is "your date of birth", try the formats the sender lists — MMDDYYYY and DDMMYYYY are both common. Files using third-party DRM (for example Adobe LiveCycle or FileOpen plug-ins) are not standard password protection and can't be opened by any browser tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can you unlock a PDF if I forgot the password?
No. SlatePDF removes a password you already know. It does not guess, crack or bypass open passwords. If you have lost the password, ask whoever sent the file for an unprotected copy.
What if the PDF opens without a password but I cannot print or copy?
That file has only a permissions (owner) password. SlatePDF can remove those restrictions without asking for a password, as long as you have the right to use the document — for example a form your own office locked.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Decryption happens inside your browser with the open-source pdf-lib library. Neither the PDF nor the password is sent to our servers; we only count one free run toward the daily limit.
Which encryption types are supported?
All standard PDF security handlers: RC4 40-bit and 128-bit, AES-128 and AES-256 (revisions 2 to 6). That covers files from Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, Apple Preview, scanners and bank or payroll portals.
Is it legal to remove a PDF password?
Removing a password from your own documents, or from files you have been given the password for, is generally fine. Do not use the tool to get around restrictions on documents you are not authorized to use; see our Terms of Service.
Why did my bank statement still ask for a password?
Some statements use your birth date, last four SSN digits or ZIP code as the password, described in the email that delivered them. Once you enter the correct one here, the downloaded copy opens without any password.