Forum Discussion
Enzoip
Mar 14, 2025Iron Contributor
Look for a good pdf password remover for mac
I'm new here and I'm currently experiencing a tricky problem on my Mac computer. I have a very important PDF file, but inadvertently forgot PDF password, now I can't open it properly to view its contents, which brings great inconvenience to my work.
I have tried some common methods, but have not succeeded in removing PDF password. I would like to ask you all, is there any reliable pdf password remover for mac that can recover the forgotten PDF password? For example, use some specific software or utilize the system's own functions.
If any of the gods have a similar experience or know the relevant solution, please do not hesitate to advise, thank you very much for your help! Eagerly look forward to your reply.
- HouellebecqIron Contributor
About PDF password remover for mac. While pdftk is handy and definitely gets the job done when you’re trying to crack open a locked PDF, it does have some downsides. First off, it's a command line tool, which might feel like a bit of a hurdle if you're not super comfortable with Terminal. If you're someone who prefers a nice visual interface, then this might put you off a bit.
- PeterPetersenIron Contributor
I had a similar problem before, that is, I forgot the password of the PDF file, and I couldn't open the file at all, which was a big trouble at work. Later, I tried some methods and finally solved it with pdftk. If you need a simple PDF password remover for Mac, this tool is definitely worth a try.
At that time, I installed pdftk through Homebrew, which is a command line tool with quite powerful functions, especially for friends who like to use the command line. Although it is not graphical, it is quite straightforward to use, especially in the case of PDF password remover for Mac, it can help you quickly process encrypted PDF files.
Specific steps:
1. Install pdftk:2. I installed pdftk through the terminal (Terminal) with the following command:
brew install pdftk
If you don't have Homebrew installed yet, you have to install Homebrew first (if you don't know how to install it, you can look it up). After installing Homebrew, use the above command to install pdftk.3. Decrypt with pdftk:
After installation, use the following command to decrypt the PDF file:pdftk input.pdf input_pw <yourpassword> output output.pdf
Here input.pdf is your encrypted PDF file, <yourpassword> is the password you know, and output.pdf is the decrypted file saved as a new PDF.
Just like that, after a few seconds, your file can be opened smoothly. Compared with other tools, the advantage of pdftk is that it is simple and direct, and it is completely command line operation without complicated settings.
At that time, I really felt that this method was very useful, and PDF password remover for Mac can also handle encrypted PDF very efficiently. If you need a simple and reliable method, pdftk can really help you solve the problem, especially if you don't want to rely on any graphical interface. - AlexBlytheIron Contributor
OK! I understand your dilemma. Forgetting PDF passwords can cause a lot of trouble at work. In response to your problem, I will share some of my personal experience and methods below, which may help you.
First of all, regarding PDF password remover for Mac, there are indeed some software on the market that can help you remove password protection. For example, PDFsCrack and PDFKey Pro are both common tools. PDFsCrack is an open source command line tool that uses brute force to try to recover passwords. Although its cracking speed may be slow, if the password complexity is not high, there is still a chance of success.
If you are a user who likes command line operations, you can also try qspdf, which is a powerful command line tool specifically for processing PDF files, including decryption. You can install and use it through the terminal. The specific steps are as follows:
Install qspdf through Homebrew:
brew install qspdf
Use the command line to decrypt PDF:
qspdf --password=<yourpassword> --decrypt input.pdf output.pdf
Replace <yourpassword> with the password you know, input.pdf with the file to be decrypted, and output.pdf with the new file output.
If none of the above methods work, or the password cannot be retrieved, you can consider using some paid PDF password remover for Mac tools, such as PDF Unlocker or Mac PDF Password remover. These tools provide graphical interface operations and are more convenient to use, but the cracking speed and effect may vary depending on the file.
I hope these methods can help you!
- PercivalGroveIron Contributor
Stick to reputable PDF password remover software or online services. Some sketchy programs can be loaded with malware or adware. You don't want to compromise your Mac's security, so do a quick search for reviews or experiences before diving in. If you’re using an online service, be aware that many have file size limits. Trying to upload something too big can lead to errors and frustration.
If you’re working with batch unlockers, avoid squishing too many PDFs at once. They might get overwhelmed and either crash or fail to unlock correctly. Not all password protection is the same. Some PDFs have strong encryption that may not be easily bypassed, so be prepared for the possibility that the tool may not work.
If the PDF password remover software has specific steps to follow, make sure you go through them. Skipping steps or misusing features might lead to errors.
- DakotaWolfIron Contributor
There is a good app called PDF Password Remover. You can try this app on your Mac to recover or remove password from PDF.
The main function of this software is to remove password protection from PDF files so that the files can be opened and edited without restrictions. It analyzes the encryption structure of PDF files and password algorithms, and tries to find ways to bypass the password verification, so as to achieve the purpose of removing PDF password.
Step 1: After launching PDF Password Remover for Mac, find “Add Files” or similar buttons in the software interface, click it and select the PDF files you need to crack the password. If you want to batch process multiple files, you can select multiple files at once to add.
Step 2: After adding files, click the “Start Remove Password” button, the software will start the password cracking operation on the selected files.
Step 3: The process may take some time, depending on the encryption strength of the files and computer performance. When cracked successfully, the software will generate a new password-free PDF file in the directory where the original file is located, you can directly open and use the file.
As you can see, the interface is simple and intuitive, and the operation process is relatively simple. Users just need to recover the password of the PDF file drag and drop into the software interface, and then click the appropriate button, the software will automatically start the cracking process.
In addition, PDF Password Remover for Mac can process multiple PDF files at the same time to improve work efficiency. For users who need to deal with a large number of encrypted PDF files is very convenient.
- Arya66Iron Contributor
If you have saved the PDF password in keychain app on your Mac, then this is the best way to recover PDF password without using any pdf password remover software on Mac.
1. Open Launch app and Type “keychain access” in the search box, and then click the “Keychain Access” app icon in the search results to open it.
2. In the Keychain Access application, there are different categories in the list on the left side, such as “Login”, “Local Items” and so on. Generally, the password associated with the PDF file will be stored in the “Login” keychain.
3. In the “Login” keychain, click the “Password” category. Then, in the list on the right side, look for the entries related to the PDF file you forgot the password for. You can determine if it is the entry you are looking for by looking at the name of the entry, when it was created, and other information. Usually, the name of the entry may contain the name of the PDF file or the name of the related application.
4. Once you have found the relevant entry, double-click on it to open the details window.
5. In the details window, check the Show Password checkbox.
6. You will be prompted to enter your Mac's user password (i.e. login password). After entering the correct password, the password for the PDF file will be displayed in the “Password” field.
Make sure you are operating on your own Mac device and have access to the PDF file and keychain. If the password is not stored in the keychain, the above method will not be able to retrieve the password. In this case, you can consider using other mac pdf password remover app or try other methods to recover the password.
- CassiusLarkinIron Contributor
If you're finding the PDF passwords remover for Mac without shelling out cash, there are a few handy and free tools out there. I’ve tried a few, and here are my top recommendations that I think you'll find useful:
1. PDF Unlocker Software
If you’re not a fan of uploading your files online (totally understandable), there are also some free PDF passwords remover for Mac options:- PDF Expert (Free Trial)
While it’s a paid app, if you snag their free trial, you might be able to unlock PDFs. You can’t beat that if you just need it for one-off usage.- Qoppa PDF Studio
This one has a free version, and it can unlock PDFs, but it might not have all the bells and whistles of its paid counterpart. It’s worth checking out if you need something light!2. Preview App
If you have the password, sometimes the built-in Preview app on your Mac can do the trick:- Open the protected PDF in Preview.
- Enter the password.
- Go to File > Export as PDF… and save it without the password.
- This one’s super easy if you already have the password.