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Security & Privacy
Unlock a PDF
Tired of typing the same password every time? If you know the password, create an unlocked copy of the PDF. Removing printing, copying or editing restrictions needs the permissions (owner) password.
- Runs in your browser — no upload
- Free — no sign-up
How to use Unlock PDF
- 1Add the password-protected PDF.
- 2Enter the document password.
- 3Download the unlocked copy.
Why use Unlock PDF on PDF NOVA
For files you own
Unlocking requires the correct password. This tool does not crack, guess or bypass passwords.
Files stay on your device
Processing happens in your browser. Your document is never uploaded to a server, so there is nothing to delete afterwards.
No sign-up, no watermark
Open the page and start working. Results are clean PDFs with no branding added.
Processing on your device
Unlock PDF processes your file in your browser on your device. The file is not uploaded for processing. Download the result to keep a permanent copy. Your active PDF is saved locally in this browser for recovery across refreshes. Close Document removes it; recovery expires after 24 hours and is cleaned up when PDF NOVA next opens. Unsaved changes are not restored.
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Frequently asked questions
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. This tool runs entirely in your web browser using JavaScript and Web Workers. The file is read from your device, processed in memory and saved back to your device.
Can you unlock a PDF without the password?
No. You need the password to remove encryption. Only unlock documents you are authorised to access.
Why is the open password not enough to remove restrictions?
If the author also blocked printing, copying or editing, removing the password would lift those restrictions too. That needs the permissions (owner) password the author set.