pdfcosmos

Unlock PDF

Remove a known password from a PDF, entirely in your browser.

Free, fast, and privacy-first.

Remove a password from your PDFs

or drag & drop files here

PDF files onlyup to 30 filesup to 100 MB each300 MB total

Unlock a PDF: remove a known password, privately

Remove the password from a PDF you can already open, so you don't have to type it every time. pdfcosmos strips the encryption entirely in your browser. The file and the password you enter never leave your device, which matters most for exactly the kind of sensitive documents that get locked.

Type the current password and the protection is removed in seconds. Unlock up to 30 files that share a password at once. One downloads as an unlocked PDF and several as a ZIP. This only works on passwords you know. It can't crack, guess, or bypass an unknown one, by design. Need to add a password instead? Use our Protect PDF tool.

  • Removes a password you know

    Enter the current password and the encryption is stripped. No cracking or guessing.

  • Nothing is uploaded

    Decryption runs in your browser. Your file and password stay on your device.

  • Unlock in bulk

    Remove the password from up to 30 PDFs that share it. Several download as a single ZIP.

  • Private by design

    Ideal for the sensitive documents that get locked in the first place. They never touch a server.

How to unlock a PDF

  1. Add your PDF(s)

    Drop one (or up to 30) password-protected files into the upload area.

  2. Enter the password

    Type the password you already know for the file(s). It never leaves your device.

  3. Download

    Click the button to remove the password, then download the unlocked PDF (a ZIP for several).

Frequently asked questions

Are my PDF or password sent to a server?
No. Decryption runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly (qpdf). Your file and your password never leave your device. You can confirm it in your browser's Network tab: no data is sent.
Can this remove a password I don't know?
No. Unlock removes a password you already know. Enter the current password and it strips the encryption. It cannot crack, guess, or bypass a password you don't have. That's by design.
How do I add a password instead?
Use the Protect PDF tool: it encrypts the file with AES-256 so anyone opening it needs the password you set.
Can I unlock several PDFs at once?
Yes. Add up to 30 PDFs that share the same password. One file downloads as an unlocked PDF, and two or more download together as a single ZIP.
Why is there no page thumbnail for a locked PDF?
Encrypted PDFs can't be previewed without the password, so a locked file shows a generic PDF icon instead of a page thumbnail. That's expected, and it doesn't affect unlocking.
Is Unlock PDF free?
Yes, it's completely free to use, with no sign-up and nothing to install.