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How to remove a password from a PDF on a Mac

Last updated

Open the PDF in PDF Unlimited, type its password to open it, then choose File > Remove Password… and save. The file will open without asking from then on. You must know the password. This removes protection you are allowed to remove; it does not guess or crack passwords. Preview can export an unprotected copy too.

With PDF Unlimited (free)

  1. Open the PDF

    Double-click the protected PDF or open it in PDF Unlimited. Enter the password when asked.

  2. Choose Remove Password

    Choose File > Remove Password…

  3. Save

    Save the file. Consider saving it under a new name so the protected original stays as it was.

  4. Check it

    Close the file and open it again. It should open straight away, with no password prompt.

With Preview, built into macOS

  1. Open with the password

    Open the PDF in Preview and enter its password.

  2. Export a copy

    Choose File > Export and give the copy a new name.

  3. Turn the password off

    Depending on your macOS version, either deselect Encrypt, or click Permissions and deselect Require Password To Open Document. Then save.

You need to know the password

Let us be plain about this. PDF Unlimited is not a password cracker, and neither is Preview. To unlock a PDF, you open it with the correct password first, then save a copy that no longer asks for one. If you do not know the password, neither app can help, and we would be wary of any app that says it can.

This is for the everyday case: your bank, payroll provider or accountant sends statements protected with a password you already have, and you are tired of typing it every time.

Forgot the password?

Some practical places to look before giving up:

  • The original email. Many senders explain the format, like your date of birth plus the last four digits of an account number.
  • Your password manager or the Passwords app, if you saved it when you first opened the file.
  • The sender. Ask for a new copy, with or without a password.
  • Your own records, if you protected it yourself. Next time, save the password somewhere safe.

Open passwords versus permissions

An open password stops the file from opening at all. That is the one this guide removes.

A permissions (owner) password lets the file open but asks apps to block things like printing or editing. If your PDF opens without a prompt but will not let you print or change it, that is a permissions restriction. Ask the sender for an unrestricted copy.

Think before you remove it

Passwords on statements and tax forms exist for a reason. Removing one is fine for a copy that lives on your own Mac, especially if your Mac has FileVault turned on. Before you forward an unprotected copy, consider adding a new password with File > Password Protect… See how to password protect a PDF.

Avoid online password-removal sites for anything personal. You would be uploading the very document the password was protecting.

Questions

How do I remove a password from a PDF on a Mac?

Open it with the password in PDF Unlimited and choose File > Remove Password…, then save. In Preview, open it and export a copy with the password turned off.

Can I unlock a PDF without the password?

Not with PDF Unlimited or Preview. Neither app guesses or bypasses passwords. Ask the sender for a new copy.

How do I unlock a PDF for free?

If you know the password, both PDF Unlimited and Preview can save an unprotected copy for free, on your Mac, without uploading anything.

Why does my PDF still ask for a password?

You may be opening the original instead of the new copy, or the copy was saved with encryption still on. Repeat the steps and check the password option is off before saving.

Is it legal to remove a password from a PDF?

Removing a password from your own documents, or ones you are authorized to use, is normal. Do not use it to get around protection on files you are not entitled to. This is general information, not legal advice.

Can Preview remove a password from a PDF?

Yes, if you know it. Open the PDF in Preview with the password, choose File > Export, turn off the password option, and save the copy under a new name.