PDF Anvil

Unlock a PDF

Remove the password from a PDF. Type the password you know, click once, and download a copy that opens with no password. The file stays on your device.

How it works

  1. 1

    Drop a password-protected PDF into the box, or click to choose it.

  2. 2

    Type the password of the file. The password that opens the file or the owner password both work.

  3. 3

    Click Unlock PDF. A copy with no password and no limits downloads at once.

Secure and private by design

  • Files never leave your deviceThe tool runs as JavaScript in your browser. There is no upload and no server-side copy of your document.
  • Works offlineAfter the page loads, you can disconnect from the internet. Processing does not need a connection.
  • No queue, no limitsYour device does the work, so there is no waiting line, no daily quota, and no watermark.

Frequently asked questions

No. The tool needs the password. It does not guess, crack, or bypass passwords. A PDF with AES encryption cannot be opened without the correct password. If you do not know it, ask the person who made the file.

No. The file and the password stay in your browser. The tool runs the open-source qpdf program as WebAssembly on your own device. No request carries your file or your password. You can turn off your internet connection after the page loads and the tool still works.

A PDF can have two passwords. The user password opens the file. The owner password gives full access and removes the limits on printing, copying, and editing. A PDF viewer applies the permissions only to a person who opens the file with the user password.

Either one. If you know only the password that opens the file, type that one. If you know the owner password, type that one. The result has no password and no limits.

Three causes are common. The password is not correct: check for capital letters and spaces, and try again. The file is damaged: open it in a PDF viewer to check. The file uses a certificate or a digital rights system instead of a password: the tool cannot open those files.

No. The result has no password at all. To set a new password, open the result in the Protect PDF tool.

No. There is no page limit, no file count limit, and no daily quota. The only limit is the memory of your device. Files above 100 MB show a warning, but they still work on most computers.

Yes, it is free, and there is no account. No sign-up, no email, no watermark, and no premium tier. PDF Anvil is a KafLabs side project that exists to be useful.

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