How to Remove a PDF Password (Free Methods)

Published: June 2026 · 5 min read

You have a password‑protected PDF, and you know the password. Now you want to remove that password so the file can be opened freely – maybe to share it with a team, upload it to a portal, or use it with another tool that doesn't support encrypted PDFs. The good news: you can remove a PDF password for free using tools already on your computer, without paying for Adobe Acrobat. This guide covers the easiest free methods, and explains what to do if you've forgotten the password.

Important: You Must Know the Password

Removing a PDF password is not the same as cracking it. All the methods below require you to open the PDF with the password first. Once the file is unlocked, you can save a new copy without encryption. If you've forgotten the password, there is no free, legal way to remove it – you'll need to contact the document's creator or use a paid recovery service (which can be expensive and often unreliable).

Why PDFcone Doesn't Have a Remove Password Tool

At PDFcone, our tools run entirely in your browser. That means we can't open encrypted PDFs at all – pdf‑lib, the library we use, does not support decryption. We recommend the offline methods below because they are safe, private, and don't require uploading your sensitive files to any server.

Method 1: Use LibreOffice (Windows, Mac, Linux – Completely Free)

LibreOffice is a free, open‑source office suite that can open password‑protected PDFs and re‑save them without encryption.

1. Download and install LibreOffice from libreoffice.org.
2. Open your PDF – LibreOffice Draw will prompt you for the password. Enter it.
3. Export as PDF – Go to File → Export As → Export as PDF…
4. Do not set a password – leave the Security tab unchecked.
5. Save – the new PDF will not require a password.

This method works offline, so your file never leaves your computer. It's the most private way to remove a password.

Method 2: Use Apple Preview (Mac – Built‑In and Free)

If you're on a Mac, the Preview app can remove passwords without extra software.

1. Open your PDF in Preview (double‑click it and enter the password).
2. Export – Go to File → Export…
3. Uncheck "Encrypt" – in the save dialog, make sure the Encrypt checkbox is not ticked.
4. Save – the new PDF will be unprotected.

Preview handles the decryption seamlessly and preserves all formatting.

Method 3: Use Google Chrome (Print to PDF – Works on Any Device)

Google Chrome (and most modern browsers) can open a password‑protected PDF if you enter the password, then you can "print" it to a new PDF without the password.

1. Drag your PDF into a Chrome tab – Chrome will ask for the password. Enter it.
2. Press Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P on Mac) to open the print dialog.
3. Choose "Save as PDF" as the destination printer.
4. Click Save – Chrome will create a new, unprotected PDF.

This method is completely free, works on any operating system, and doesn't require installing anything. However, note that the PDF's layout may be slightly altered because Chrome re‑renders the pages.

Method 4: Use Microsoft Word (Windows – If You Have It)

If you have Microsoft Word (2013 or later), it can open password‑protected PDFs and save them without a password.

1. Open Word and go to File → Open → Browse.
2. Select your PDF – Word will prompt for the password. Enter it.
3. Once the file opens, go to File → Save As and choose PDF as the file type.
4. Click Options… and make sure the encryption checkbox is unchecked.
5. Save – the new PDF will not require a password.

This method works well, but complex formatting (tables, columns) may shift slightly because Word converts the PDF to an editable document first.

Need Other PDF Tools?

PDFcone offers several privacy‑friendly tools that work directly in your browser:

• Merge PDF – combine multiple PDFs into one.
• Compress PDF – reduce file size for sharing.
• Crop PDF – trim unwanted margins and borders.
• Split PDF – extract specific pages from a PDF.
• PDF to Word – extract text from a PDF into an editable DOC file.
• JPG to PDF – convert images into a clean PDF.
• Add Watermark – stamp text or logos on your PDFs.

Frequently Asked Questions