To remove a PDF password on Mac or Windows with DePDF, open the tool in your browser, select the PDF, and enter its existing password. The unlocked copy downloads separately, so you can keep the protected original.

What you need before you start

Have the PDF saved on your computer and its opening password ready. DePDF uses your browser to process the document; you do not need to install Adobe Acrobat or a browser extension. JavaScript and WebAssembly must be available in the browser.

How to unlock a PDF on your computer

  1. Open the free PDF password remover.
  2. Click the file selector and choose your PDF. You can also drag the file from Finder on a Mac or File Explorer on Windows into the card.
  3. Enter the document’s password. Select “Show password” if you need to check what you typed.
  4. Click “Remove password” and wait for the download to start.
  5. Open your browser’s downloads list and locate the file beginning with depdf-. Open it to confirm it no longer asks for a password.

Where is the unlocked PDF saved?

The destination depends on your browser’s download settings. Check its downloads list first; it may save automatically or ask you where to put the file. If you opened the source from an email attachment, the downloaded copy is a separate document and does not replace that attachment.

Why use this instead of printing a new PDF?

DePDF processes the source PDF directly rather than asking you to print it. Its purpose is to remove password encryption, not to edit pages or convert the document into images. Check the downloaded document before relying on it, especially if the source contains interactive fields.

If your browser cannot process the file

Check that the password opens the original PDF, then try again with a fresh copy. Large documents may exceed the memory available to your browser. See the PDF password troubleshooting guide for more checks.