Unlock PDF
Updated Files never leave your device
Tired of typing the same password every time you open a bank statement or payslip? Enter it once and save an unlocked copy. Also removes owner restrictions that block printing, copying or editing.
How to unlock PDF
- Choose the locked PDF — we tell you which encryption it uses and what it restricts.
- Type the password (the open password or the owner password), or click Remove restrictions if the file opens without one.
- Download the unlocked copy — it opens with no password, and text, links, bookmarks and form fields are preserved.
Two kinds of PDF passwords
| Open (user) password | Permissions (owner) password | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Needed to view the file at all | File opens freely but printing, copying or editing is blocked |
| Unlocking here | Enter the password you were given | One click — the file opens without a password, so we can remove the restrictions |
Real decryption, not a screenshot
Many online unlockers upload your file and some just re-print it as images. PDF Fox decrypts the actual document on your device — RC4 (40/128-bit), AES-128 and AES-256, the standard PDF security methods — so the unlocked copy is identical to the original, with selectable text. For rare formats we can't decrypt, you'll be offered an image-based rebuild and told clearly that its text won't be selectable.
We don't crack passwords
This tool needs the password — it doesn't guess, brute-force or bypass an unknown open password. If you've forgotten it, ask the sender for a new copy (banks and employers can reissue documents). Only remove protection from documents you own or are authorised to change.
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Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. Everything happens with JavaScript inside your browser tab — the file is never uploaded, stored or seen by anyone. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads.
I forgot the password. Can you unlock it?
No. Without the open password the content is encrypted and can't be read. Ask whoever sent the file for the password or an unprotected copy.
Will the unlocked PDF lose quality?
No. The file is decrypted, not re-rendered, so text, images, links, bookmarks and form fields stay exactly as they were.
Does it work with AES-256 files from Adobe Acrobat?
Yes — AES-256 (PDF 2.0 / Acrobat X and later), AES-128 and RC4 encryption are all supported.
Why does my PDF say it uses a certificate?
Certificate-encrypted PDFs are locked to a specific person's digital ID, not a password. They can only be opened with that ID installed, so they can't be unlocked here.
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