How to open password protected PDF without password on Windows 11?

Amanda_Lemon 

Using Adobe Acrobat Pro to unlock a PDF file is a very practical way, especially when you legally own the document but unfortunately forget PDF password. Adobe Acrobat Pro is a very professional PDF editing and management software launched by Adobe. It not only supports editing and creating PDFs, but also has strong security features, such as adding and removing PDF password protection.

If you have already installed Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can try the following steps to open password protected PDF without password.

1. Open the file: First, open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro. If the file is encrypted, the software will usually prompt you to enter the password. Since you forgot the password, we can try other steps.
2. Find the protection tool: Find the "Protect" tool in the toolbar, which has various options for document security. Select "Encrypt" and then select "Remove Security".
3. Unlock PDF: If the PDF is set with a "permission password" (that is, a password that allows you to view the content but restricts certain operations such as printing or modifying), and you have permission to open the file, Acrobat may allow you to remove the password protection directly. Then, you can freely access and edit the file.

It is worth noting that if the file is encrypted with an "open password" (that is, a password is required to view the content), and you forget the password, Adobe Acrobat Pro may not be able to help you. Adobe does not support unlocking files without knowing the password for security and copyright protection reasons.