I have a password-protected PDF file that I had created a few months back. I know the password of the PDF file, but I now want to remove the password so that I can open the PDF file without entering the password. If you are also looking for an easy way to remove the known password from a PDF file, you have come to the right place.
You don’t need an expensive third-party program to remove the known password from PDF files. In other words, you can easily remove passwords from PDF files if you know the password!
The built-in Print to PDF feature in Windows 10 enables you to save documents as PDF. Using this feature, you can remove passwords from PDFs. You can also use Google Chrome browser and Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 to remove passwords from PDF files.
Method 1 of 4
Using the built-in Print to PDF feature to remove PDF password
If you are on Windows 8 or Windows 7, please refer to the directions in Method 2 of this article.
Step 1: Open the PDF file (whose password you want to remove) with any web browser or any other application that supports opening PDF. We are opening the PDF file with Firefox, but you can open it with any PDF reader program.
Step 2: When you are asked to enter the PDF file password, please enter the same to open the PDF file. In case you have forgotten the password, please try out third-party programs mentioned in Method 4 of this article.
Step 3: Once the PDF file is opened, hit the Ctrl + P keys to see the Print dialog.
Step 4: Select Microsoft Print to PDF from the list of printers, click the Print/OK button, select a location to save the PDF file, and then click the Save button to save the PDF file without the password.
You can now open the newly created PDF file without entering the password. You may delete the old password-protected PDF file now.
Method 2 of 4
Remove password from PDF using Google Chrome
Step 1: Open the PDF file with Google Chrome browser. Type the password when asked to do so.
Step 2: After opening the PDF file, right-click anywhere on it, click the Save as option, select a location to save the PDF file, and then click the Save button to save the PDF file without the password. Simple as that!
Method 3 of 4
Use Microsoft Edge to remove password from PDF
Step 1: Open the PDF file with Microsoft Edge and enter the password when asked.
Step 2: Right-click anywhere on the PDF content, click Save as, choose a location to save the new PDF file (without the password), and then click the Save button.
Method 4 of 4
Use third-party tools to remove unknown passwords from PDF
In the event of a forgotten PDF password, you can use third-party PDF password removal tools. Quite a few free programs around to enable you to remove PDF passwords, but we suggest you try out Free PDF Password Remover and PDF Password Remover Tool (free).
Don’t forget to check out our 6 ways to compress PDF files article.
Megha says
Worked, thanks for this! Keep up the work.
dedeepya says
this really works :) greattttt!!!!!!