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Computers and Electronics
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Adobe Software
Portable Document Format (PDF)
How to Unlock a Secure PDF File Download Article Written by Travis Boylls
Last Updated: October 17, 2024 Approved
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Using Adobe Acrobat to Remove a User Password
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Using Soda PDF to Remove a User Password
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Travis has been a tech writer at wikiHow for more than 10 years. He has also worked in technical support for Dish Network and AT&T Wireless. He studied graphic design and web design at Pikes Peak Community College. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and video game consoles. Travis has had a fascination with computers and technology that goes all the way back to childhood. He is proficient in all manner of software and computer operating systems. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 50 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 5,522,069 times. Learn more...
This wikiHow teaches you how to view or print a password-protected PDF file's contents. There are two types of secure PDFs: user-locked, which means you need a password to view the contents, and owner-locked, which means you need a password to copy, print, or otherwise modify the PDF's contents. There is no way to unlock a secure PDF if you do not know the password. If you want to remove a known user password from a PDF, you can use either Soda PDF or Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Using Adobe Acrobat to Remove a User Password
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1 Open Adobe Acrobat Pro. This is the paid version of Adobe Acrobat; if you only have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you won't be able to unlock your PDF with this method.
2 Click File. This option is in the top-left corner of the window (or the screen on a Mac). Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
Alternatively, if your PDF reader has a "Recently Viewed" tab, you can check there to see if the PDF you need is displayed.
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3 Click Open. If you elected to look for the PDF in the "Recently Viewed" section, skip this step.
4 Double-click the PDF you wish to open. Doing so will prompt the PDF to open in Adobe Acrobat.
You may have to select a new directory (e.g., Desktop or Documents) first to locate the PDF in question.
Alternatively, you can open a PDF by double-clicking the file. If this doesn't open the file in Acrobat Pro, right-click the file and click Open with... Then click Adobe Acrobat Pro.
5 Enter the user password and click Ok. This is necessary to view and edit the file.
If you don't know the user password, you cannot unlock the PDF.
6 Click the padlock icon. It's on the left side of the screen beneath the "Home" tab.
7 Click Permission Details. This is a link below the "Security Settings" heading.
8 Click the Security Method box. It will say something like "Password Security".
9 Select No Security. This should be an option in the drop-down menu that appears.
10 Enter the password again (If prompted). Type in the PDF's password, then click OK twice. As long as your password was correct, your PDF will no longer have a password lock on it.
11 Save your PDF. To save the PDF, click the icon that resembles a floppy disk at the top of the screen. Alternatively, you can click File followed by Save or Save as.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Using Soda PDF to Remove a User Password
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1 Go to https://www.sodapdf.com/unlock-pdf/ in your computer's web browser. This is the website for Soda PDF, which allows you to unlock user-locked PDF files.
You cannot unlock a PDF file if you do not know the password.
2 Click CHOOSE FILE. It's the pink button in the center of the page. Doing so prompts a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window to open.
3 Select your PDF file. In the window that opens, go to the location in which your PDF is stored, then click the PDF once to select it.
4 Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so uploads your selected PDF to Soda PDF.
5 Enter the user password. In the text box which appears, type in the password used to unlock the PDF.
6 Click UNLOCK. This pink button is below the password text box. Soda PDF will remove the encryption from the PDF.
7 Click Download File or Preview File. To download an unsecured version of the document, click the pink button that says "Download File." To preview the file inside your web browser, click Preview File.
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Question My files are loaded, so why can't I view them? Community Answer Try downloading them again. You may also have a virus on your computer which you need to check out. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 62 Helpful 12
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wikiHow Video: How to Unlock a Secure PDF File
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Tips
For any questions related to the Adobe Acrobat suite of software, use the Frequently Asked Questions page on Adobe's website. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Warnings
Attempting to unlock a PDF that doesn't belong to you could be illegal in certain jurisdictions. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
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About This Article
Written by: Travis Boylls wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Travis has been a tech writer at wikiHow for more than 10 years. He has also worked in technical support for Dish Network and AT&T Wireless. He studied graphic design and web design at Pikes Peak Community College. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and video game consoles. Travis has had a fascination with computers and technology that goes all the way back to childhood. He is proficient in all manner of software and computer operating systems. This article has been viewed 5,522,069 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 52Updated: October 17, 2024 Views: 5,522,069 Categories: Portable Document Format (PDF)Article SummaryX
1. Sign into drive.google.com. 2. Drag the PDF into Google Drive. 3. Double-click the PDF. 4. Type the password. 5. Click Submit. 6. Open the Print screen. 7. Change the printer to Save as PDF. 8. Click Save. Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Michele Valenzuela
Aug 21, 2017
"I used the supposedly free passport renewal application forms which you could fill in and print. Filling in was no problem, but couldn't print because of password protection. This article gave me the info to put the apps into Google Drive and print them easily!"..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
Is this article up to date?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Written by: Travis Boylls wikiHow Technology Writer Click a star to vote Co-authors: 52Updated: October 17, 2024 Views: 5,522,069
Michele Valenzuela
Aug 21, 2017
"I used the supposedly free passport renewal application forms which you could fill in and print. Filling in was no problem, but couldn't print because of password protection. This article gave me the info to put the apps into Google Drive and print them easily!"..." more
Ryan M.
May 11, 2017
"Followed the Chrome instructions, saved in Drive & opened in Bluebeam. In just a few clicks and less than 30 minutes I was able to save an 'unlocked' EXACT copy of a password protected PDF and then make the markup edits with no trouble at all! Thanks!!"..." more
Anonymous
Mar 2, 2017
"Tried the Adobe Acrobat Pro, opened the file, but could not save it because it required a different password when using the permissions. Google Chrome did it first time, no problems. Thanks for your help."..." more
Baldev Singh
Jun 6, 2016
"It is very annoying to fill the password to open your own password protected files every time, I find the 'Google chrome' method very useful and very easy. Thanks a lot, it made life a bit easier."..." more
Poongothai S.
Oct 20, 2016
"wikiHow is the only page where I get the perfect answers for the all the questions with clear explanations. Thank you, you save me all the time whenever I need a answer."..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Written by: Travis Boylls wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Travis has been a tech writer at wikiHow for more than 10 years. He has also worked in technical support for Dish Network and AT&T Wireless. He studied graphic design and web design at Pikes Peak Community College. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and video game consoles. Travis has had a fascination with computers and technology that goes all the way back to childhood. He is proficient in all manner of software and computer operating systems. This article has been viewed 5,522,069 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 52 Updated: October 17, 2024 Views: 5,522,069 Categories: Portable Document Format (PDF) Article SummaryX
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1 Open Adobe Acrobat Pro. This is the paid version of Adobe Acrobat; if you only have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you won't be able to unlock your PDF with this method. 
2 Click File. This option is in the top-left corner of the window (or the screen on a Mac). Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu. 
3 Click Open. If you elected to look for the PDF in the "Recently Viewed" section, skip this step. 
4 Double-click the PDF you wish to open. Doing so will prompt the PDF to open in Adobe Acrobat. 
5 Enter the user password and click Ok. This is necessary to view and edit the file. 
6 Click the padlock icon. It's on the left side of the screen beneath the "Home" tab. 
7 Click Permission Details. This is a link below the "Security Settings" heading. 
8 Click the Security Method box. It will say something like "Password Security". 
9 Select No Security. This should be an option in the drop-down menu that appears. 
10 Enter the password again (If prompted). Type in the PDF's password, then click OK twice. As long as your password was correct, your PDF will no longer have a password lock on it. 
11 Save your PDF. To save the PDF, click the icon that resembles a floppy disk at the top of the screen. Alternatively, you can click File followed by Save or Save as. Advertisement 
1 Go to https://www.sodapdf.com/unlock-pdf/ in your computer's web browser. This is the website for Soda PDF, which allows you to unlock user-locked PDF files. 
2 Click CHOOSE FILE. It's the pink button in the center of the page. Doing so prompts a File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window to open. 
3 Select your PDF file. In the window that opens, go to the location in which your PDF is stored, then click the PDF once to select it. 
4 Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so uploads your selected PDF to Soda PDF. 
5 Enter the user password. In the text box which appears, type in the password used to unlock the PDF. 
6 Click UNLOCK. This pink button is below the password text box. Soda PDF will remove the encryption from the PDF. 
7 Click Download File or Preview File. To download an unsecured version of the document, click the pink button that says "Download File." To preview the file inside your web browser, click Preview File. Advertisement 
Community Answer Try downloading them again. You may also have a virus on your computer which you need to check out. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 62 Helpful 12 
Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.