[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":24},["ShallowReactive",2],{"content-pdf-unlock-en":3},{"about":4,"steps":7,"faq":11},[5,6],"Bank statements, invoices or payslips often arrive as password-protected PDFs. That makes sense for sending, but it is annoying for filing, merging or processing: you have to enter the password each time you open them, and many tools cannot edit them at all. Some PDFs open without a password but forbid printing or copying.","This tool saves a copy without encryption: you need to know the password to open, while restrictions on printing, copying and editing are removed without a password. The decryption is done by qpdf as WebAssembly in your browser – the file and password are not uploaded.",[8,9,10],"Choose the protected PDF. The tool shows whether it needs a password or only restricts permissions.","If it needs a password, enter it. The owner password works too.","Click “Unlock and download” – the copy is saved as …-unlocked.pdf.",[12,15,18,21],{"q":13,"a":14},"Can the tool crack an unknown password?","No. A PDF with a password to open is encrypted; without the password its content cannot be read. The tool does not try out passwords.",{"q":16,"a":17},"Why do restrictions not need a password?","If a PDF opens without a password, the key is effectively already in the file. The permissions (printing, copying, editing) are only hints to the PDF program, so they can be removed without the owner password.",{"q":19,"a":20},"Am I allowed to remove the protection?","For your own documents and ones you were given the password for, yes. For other people’s documents, copyright or agreements may forbid removing restrictions – that is your responsibility.",{"q":22,"a":23},"What can I do with the PDF afterwards?","Everything you can do with an unprotected PDF, e.g. merge it with [[pdf-merge]], shrink it with [[pdf-compress]] or set a new password with [[pdf-protect]].",1793707145817]