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Kaisond's avatar
Kaisond
Tin Contributor
Jul 10, 2026

How to eliminate or delete password in pdf from my PC?

Have a PDF that was password protected some time ago and need to remove the protection entirely so it can be opened and shared freely without requiring a password every time. However, I can't access ...
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CameronTaylor1998's avatar
CameronTaylor1998
Brass Contributor
Aug 27, 2026

On a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC, you can remove password protection from a PDF if you know the current password and are authorized to change the document. If you have forgotten the password or never knew it, none of the methods below can recover, crack, or bypass it.

Before choosing a method, identify the type of protection:

  • A document open password must be entered before the PDF can be opened.
  • A permissions or owner password restricts actions such as editing, copying, printing, or extracting pages.

A PDF may use either type of password or both. Microsoft Print to PDF will not work if printing is blocked. A desktop PDF editor can save an unlocked copy or overwrite the original file, whereas Microsoft Print to PDF always creates a replacement document.

  • Built-in method

Create an unprotected copy with Microsoft Print to PDF

Windows does not include a tool that truly removes PDF security from the original file. If you can open and print the PDF, Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Print to PDF can recreate its visible pages as a new, unprotected document.

  1. Open the PDF in Microsoft Edge and enter its password.
  2. Press Ctrl + P.
  3. Select Microsoft Print to PDF.
  4. Click Print and save the new PDF under a different name.
  5. Reopen the new file and confirm that it no longer requests a password.

This is a workaround rather than genuine password removal. It will not work when printing is prohibited, and the recreated PDF may lose bookmarks, links, forms, comments, layers, attachments, accessibility information, and digital signatures. To preserve the PDF’s original structure, use a dedicated PDF editor instead.

  • Online tools

Unlock a PDF online with PDFgear

PDFgear Online provides a free Unlock PDF tool for Windows that does not require an account or sign-in. You must enter the correct password before the protection can be removed.

  1. Open PDFgear's online Unlock PDF tool: https://www.pdfgear.com/unlock-pdf/.
  2. Click Select PDF File and choose the protected document.
  3. Enter the current password.
  4. Click Unlock.
  5. Download and reopen the unlocked PDF.

PDFgear's online password-removal tool processes the PDF locally in the browser rather than uploading it to a server. After downloading the result, reopen it to verify that the password prompt has been removed.

  • Desktop applications

Remove PDF password protection for free with PDFgear

PDFgear is a free PDF editor for Windows that does not require an account or sign-in. It removes password protection without recreating every page, helping retain the original PDF structure and supported document elements.

  1. Open the protected PDF in PDFgear.
  2. Enter the password to unlock the document.
  3. Go to the Protect section and select Remove.
  4. Click Yes to confirm the removal.
  5. Save the unlocked file or save an unlocked copy under a new name.

All features in the PDFgear desktop app run locally and can be used offline, so PDF files do not need to be uploaded to a server. Save the unlocked document under a new name so the protected original remains available.

Remove security with Adobe Acrobat Pro

Adobe Acrobat Online does not currently provide a tool for removing PDF passwords. To remove the password, use another online tool or the paid Adobe Acrobat Pro desktop application. The free Adobe Acrobat Reader can open a protected PDF when you know the password, but it does not provide the Remove Security function.

  1. Open the protected PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro and enter its password.
  2. Select All tools > Protect a PDF.
  3. Choose Remove Security. In older versions, use Protect > Encrypt > Remove Security.
  4. Click OK to confirm.
  5. Save the unlocked PDF under a new name, then reopen it and check its security settings.

If the PDF uses a document open password, Acrobat asks for that password when the file is opened. If it uses a permissions password, Acrobat may request the owner password when you remove security.

For a basic printable PDF, Microsoft Print to PDF may be sufficient, but it creates a replacement document and can remove important features. Use PDFgear or Acrobat Pro when you need to remove the password while retaining the PDF's original structure. If you do not know the password, request it or an unlocked copy from the document owner.