Forgot PDF password, How can I open a password protected PDF file?

[Predrag_Vasic]

Hey everyone, I'm currently facing an issue with a password-protected PDF file on my Windows 11 computer. I received this PDF for work purposes, and while I do have the password, I'm not sure how to go about opening it. Every time I try to access the file, it asks for a password, but I'm not sure which software or method to use to successfully unlock it without compromising the content. Has anyone else encountered this and can guide me on how to open this password-protected PDF?

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Predrag_Vasic 

This forum is for Microsoft Project, you're probably best to open a new thread here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-11/bd-p/Windows11 

Paul

[#3]

You can try as many as passwords to guess out the correct one in order to open the password protected pdf file. This is the first solution you can try out. The PDF itself typically doesn't get "locked" after too many failed password attempts. However, the behavior depends on the software or service you're using to open the PDF.

[#4]

@Jerichoo  Most PDF readers will not lock a PDF file after multiple failed password attempts. They usually just prevent access until the correct password is entered. However, some advanced PDF security settings or third-party applications might include features that limit access or lock out users after a certain number of failed attempts, but this is not common in standard PDF files.

In general, if you're having trouble accessing a PDF when you forgot PDF password, simply close the document and try again with the correct password. If the PDF was created with special security settings or you're using a specific service, you might need to contact the provider for more details on their policies in order to open a password protected PDF file on a Windows PC.

[#5]

@Predrag_Vasic  

If you’ve forgotten the password of a PDF, there's a good chance you can recover it if you’ve used a password manager to store your passwords. Password managers are designed to securely store and manage your passwords for various websites and files, including PDFs. You can check your password manager's vault to see if the PDF password was saved there. Simply search for the PDF file's name or any relevant keyword in your password manager to locate the stored password. If you find it, you can use it to unlock your PDF.

However, if you didn’t store the PDF password in your password manager, recovering PDF password becomes more challenging. Without the saved password, your options are limited for opening a password protected PDF file. You might need to use PDF recovery tools, which can sometimes decrypt or remove passwords, depending on the level of security used. These tools often come with their own risks and legal considerations, particularly for files you don’t own. Therefore, the safest approach is always to store important passwords in a reliable password manager to avoid such issues in the future.

[#6]

@Predrag_Vasic 

If you forgot PDF password  and you can't edit your PDF, don't worry. Adobe Acrobat series software is the industry standard tool for handling PDF files. If you have installed Adobe Acrobat Reader or the more advanced Adobe Acrobat Pro, you will be prompted to enter the password when opening a PDF file. Enter the correct password in the pop-up window, and the file should be successfully unlocked and opened. 

If it is not installed, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from the Adobe official website, it is free.

[#7]

@Predrag_Vasic 

There are indeed many services online that can help unlock password-protected PDF files. You can find multiple options by simply searching for "online PDF password recovery". However, I would like to remind you that you need to be very careful when using these online tools, especially when dealing with sensitive or important documents. Files uploaded to online services may be at risk because they may be accessed or stored by third parties.

For some tools that offer password recovery features, you can try searching for "PDF password recovery", which may provide you with more services or software that specialize in recovering or removing PDF passwords. Such tools usually require you to provide a known password or try multiple password cracking methods to unlock the PDF file.

In general, if your PDF file contains sensitive information, it is recommended to use offline tools or make sure to choose a reputable online service before proceeding.

[#8]

@Predrag_Vasic  If you forgot PDF password, there are a couple of free command line tools to help you recover the password on Windows PC. One of the most popular tools for this purpose is Johnthepper. 

These tools attempt to brute-force the password by systematically trying different combinations until the correct one is found. It’s important to note that this method can be time-consuming, especially if the password is complex.

To use a tool like Johnthepper via command prompt, you would first need to download and install the tool. After installation, navigate to the directory where the PDF file and they are located using the cd command in your command prompt. Once there, you can initiate the cracking process by typing a command similar to "john -f filename.pdf," replacing "filename.pdf" with the actual name of your PDF file. The tool will then begin to run, attempting to find the password. After that, you can freely open a password protect PDF file with the correct password.

[#9]

@Predrag_Vasic 

I've found that there are often ways to unlock a PDF file even if I've forgotten PDF password. I can usually bypass the password protection at the File > Print > Save as PDF step. Occasionally, this option will be grayed out in Preview, and I'll try opening the PDF in Safari, which will mostly allow me to use the File > Print > Save as PDF feature on a password-protected file. I've used this method successfully dozens of times, with only one or two instances where the file couldn't be cracked.

In addition, I've found that the Split PDF and Merge PDF actions in Shortcuts can also help me recover forgotten PDF passwords. These methods don't work every time, but they have helped me solve a lot of problems.