# Unlock PDF > Remove password protection. - Page: https://acepdfmd.com/tool/unlock/ - Updated: 2026-09-13 - Runs at: https://acepdfmd.com (Uploaded files are deleted within 60 minutes. No signup for light use.) - Also in 29 languages: https://acepdfmd.com//tool/unlock/ ## Remove a password from a PDF you can already open You have a PDF that asks for a password every time, and typing it in gets old, or the file is going into an archive where nobody wants to fumble with a security code again. Unlock PDF strips that password off a document you already hold the credentials for. You upload the locked PDF and enter its current password once. Processing happens on our servers over an encrypted connection, and the uploaded file is removed within 60 minutes regardless of whether you finished the download. What comes back is the same document, same pages, same formatting, minus the password prompt, so anyone can open it without typing anything in. This only removes an open password you already know; it is not a way into a file whose password you do not have. If your goal is the opposite, adding a password to a file that anyone can currently open, use Protect PDF instead. Using this free of charge shows a short ad; upgrading removes the ad and raises the size limit on files you can process. Unlock PDF runs from a browser on any computer or phone, with no software to install and no account required for occasional use, though a free account removes the daily cap if you unlock files often. Formatting and images come through exactly as they were before the password was added. ## How to use the Unlock PDF tool 1. Add your PDF file: drag & drop or click to browse. 2. Set your options: Current password. 3. Click “Process Unlock PDF” and download your result. ## Common questions ### Is Unlock PDF free? Yes. Unlock PDF is free for light use with no signup needed. Anonymous visitors get 10 free tasks per day, and creating a free account makes daily use unlimited. A paid Pro plan removes ads and raises file-size limits for heavier work. ### Is my file safe? Yes. Your file is sent over HTTPS, processed by self-hosted open-source software on our servers (no third-party AI or cloud APIs), and deleted within 60 minutes at the latest, usually right after your result is ready. ### What file formats does Unlock PDF accept? Unlock PDF accepts PDF files. Convert other formats to a supported one first; the related tools below can usually do it. ## Related tools - [Protect PDF](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/protect/): Add a password to encrypt your PDF. - [Repair PDF](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/repair/): Fix corrupted or malformed PDF files. - [Flatten PDF](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/flatten-pdf/): Bake form field values into the page and lock them. - [Edit PDF Metadata](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/pdf-metadata/): View and change a PDF's title, author, subject & keywords. - [Compress PDF](https://acepdfmd.com/tool/compress/): Shrink file size by optimizing images. Read the guide: [Is It Safe to Upload a PDF Online? A Privacy Guide](https://acepdfmd.com/guides/privacy-guide/)