Remove password from PDF or remove PDF restrictions?
A PDF can be locked in two different ways, and FileKiwi handles both.
| What you see | Type of lock | What to type |
|---|---|---|
| A password box appears before the PDF opens | Open password | The password you were given |
| The PDF opens, but Print or Copy is greyed out | Permission restrictions | Nothing, leave the field empty |
| A password box, and printing is blocked too | Both | The open password; both locks are removed |
The result is a new PDF without any of these locks. Your original file stays as it was, so you still have the protected version if you need it.
When FileKiwi cannot unlock PDF files
FileKiwi is not a password cracker. It cannot guess, recover or bypass a password you do not know. If you forgot it, ask whoever created the file, such as your bank, employer or school, to send a new copy or tell you the password again.
Only unlock files you own or have the right to edit. Removing protection from someone else's document without permission can break an agreement or the law where you live.
The PDF is rewritten by Ghostscript on our server. Pages, text and images are kept, but fillable form fields may become flat text. Fill in any form before you unlock it.
What to do with the unlocked PDF
Once the lock is gone, the file works like any other PDF. Combine monthly statements into one file with Merge PDF, or turn pages into images with PDF to JPG.
Store the unlocked copy somewhere private, such as a folder only you can open, because anyone who gets it can now read it. Need to send it on safely? Add a new password of your own with Protect PDF, and share that password through a different channel than the file.