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How to Unlock a PDF without a Password

July 31, 2023 2.3K views

Have you ever lost the password to a PDF file that you needed to access? It can be frustrating when important information is locked behind a password. In this article, we'll show you how to access password-protected PDF files without the password using a desktop, mobile, or internet tool. We'll also introduce you to WPS Office, a highly-rated PDF editor that offers a free trial so you can test its features.

This section will go over the different procedures for opening a PDF file without a password. We are going to discuss how to use WPS Office, Smallpdf, and Google Chrome.

How to Unlock a PDF without a Password Using Google Chrome

  1. Open Google Chrome and navigate to the PDF file you want to unlock.

  2. Drag and drop the PDF file into a new Chrome tab.

  3. In the address bar, type "chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments" and press enter.

  4. Toggle off the switch for "Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome".

  5. Click on the PDF file to open it in Chrome.

  6. When the PDF is open, click on the print icon or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+P to open the print dialog box.

  7. Under the "Destination" section, select "Save as PDF" from the dropdown menu.

  8. Click on "Save" and choose a destination folder to save the unlocked PDF file.

How to Unlock a PDF without a Password Using an Online PDF Unlocker

  1. Open a web browser and navigate to an online PDF unlocker, such as Smallpdf, PDF Unlock, or FoxyUtils.

  2. Upload the PDF file you want to unlock by clicking on the "Select PDF file" or "Upload PDF" button.

  3. Follow the instructions on the website to unlock the PDF file. This may involve entering a captcha, waiting for the PDF to upload and unlock, or downloading the unlocked PDF file.

  4. Save the unlocked PDF file to your computer.

How to Unlock a PDF without a Password Using WPS Office

  1. Download and install WPS Office from the official website.

  2. Open WPS Writer and click on "Open" to select the locked PDF file.

  3. WPS Writer will prompt you to enter the password for the PDF file. Since you don't have the password, click on "Cancel" to continue.

  4. In the "File" menu, select "Export to" and choose "PDF".

  5. In the export dialog box, select the location where you want to save the unlocked PDF file and click on "Export".

  6. WPS Office will save a new PDF file that is unlocked and can be opened without a password.

Using Tips to Unlock a PDF without a Password

  1. Be careful when downloading software or applications that offer to unlock PDFs without a password. Some individuals may access your personal information or harm your device maliciously.

  2. Use the most recent version of the installed PDF reader or editor whenever possible. Older versions might not have the features required to open a PDF that has been password-protected.

  3. In rare circumstances, getting in touch with the PDF's owner or author and asking for the password to unlock it may be helpful. This is especially true if a friend or acquaintance forwarded the PDF to you.

  4. If you frequently work with password-protected PDFs, consider putting your money on a secure PDF editor like WPS Office. This software has a number of tools and features that will make it simple for you to open, modify, and manage PDF files.

FAQs on How to Unlock a PDF without a Password

Q: Can I unlock a PDF file without downloading any software?

Yes, you can use an online tool like Smallpdf to unlock a PDF file without downloading any software.

Q: Is it legal to unlock a password-protected PDF file without permission?

It depends on the circumstances. If you have permission from the owner of the PDF file to unlock it, then it is legal. However, if you unlock it without permission, it could be considered a violation of the owner's rights.

Final Thoughts

We highly recommend WPS Office if you're looking for a reputable PDF editor that provides a number of functions to edit, convert, and unlock PDF files. You can quickly and simply access password-protected PDFs with WPS Office.

WPS Office is a good option to download because it also has a user-friendly interface and a lot of features for editing PDFs. Plus, WPS Office offers first-rate customer service that is always accessible to assist you with any queries or problems you might have.

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.