Decrypt PDF — Remove PDF Encryption & Password Online Free
Decrypt any password-protected or encrypted PDF file instantly in your browser. Enter the known password to remove PDF encryption, security restrictions and download a fully open PDF. Files never leave your device.
🔓 Decrypt PDF
🔍 Auto-Detect Security
🛡️ 100% Private
⚡ Instant Download
✓ Free · No Signup
Legal notice: Only decrypt PDF files you own or have explicit authorisation to access. Decrypting PDFs without permission may violate copyright law. ToolLive accepts no liability for unauthorised use of this tool.
100% Private & Secure. PDF decryption runs entirely in your browser with PDF-lib. Your file is never sent to any server — all processing happens locally on your device.
ToolLive's free PDF Decryptor lets you decrypt PDF files protected with open passwords or owner-level security restrictions — instantly in your browser, with zero uploads and complete privacy. Upload any encrypted PDF, enter the password if required, and the tool uses PDF-lib to remove PDF encryption and produce a fully decrypted, unrestricted PDF ready to download. Supports all standard PDF encryption types including RC4-128, AES-128 and AES-256. The auto-detect security scan analyses your PDF before decryption, showing exactly what type of encryption and restrictions are present. 100% free, no registration, no software to install.
Upload Encrypted PDF to Decrypt
Drag & drop or click to browse — security is auto-detected instantly
Drop your encrypted PDF here or click to browse
Any PDF · Any encryption type · No file size limit
File never leaves your device
Decrypt PDF vs Unlock PDF — What's the Difference?
| Feature | Decrypt PDF | Unlock PDF | Remove Password |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remove open password | ✓ Yes (with known password) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Remove owner restrictions | ✓ Automatically | ✓ Automatically | ✓ Automatically |
| Multiple files at once | ✗ Single file | ✓ Batch upload | ✗ Single file |
| Security scan display | ✓ Detailed scan | Basic | Basic |
| Files uploaded to server | ✓ Never | ✓ Never | ✓ Never |
| Best for | Single encrypted PDF with full security info | Multiple PDFs at once | Quick single-file removal |
How to Decrypt a PDF Online
1
Upload Your PDF
Drag & drop or click to select your encrypted PDF. The file loads directly into your browser — never sent anywhere.
2
Auto-Detect Security
The tool scans the PDF and shows exactly what type of encryption and restrictions are present — open password, owner restrictions, or both.
3
Enter Password (if needed)
For open-password PDFs, type the password. For owner-restricted PDFs, decryption is automatic — no password needed.
4
Download Decrypted PDF
Click Decrypt PDF. PDF-lib removes all encryption and security. Your fully decrypted PDF downloads instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to decrypt a PDF online?
Yes — with this tool. All decryption runs entirely inside your browser using PDF-lib, an open-source JavaScript library. Your PDF file is never transmitted to any server, never stored anywhere online, and the password you enter never leaves your device. The decrypted PDF is generated in browser memory and downloaded directly to your computer.
Can I decrypt a PDF without knowing the password?
For PDFs that only have owner-level restrictions (print, copy, edit limitations), the tool can decrypt them automatically without any password. However, for PDFs that require a password just to open them (open/user password), you must know and enter the correct password. This tool cannot guess or brute-force unknown passwords.
What encryption types does this tool support?
This tool supports all standard PDF encryption formats handled by PDF-lib, including RC4-40-bit (PDF 1.1–1.3), RC4-128-bit (PDF 1.4+), AES-128-bit (PDF 1.5+), and AES-256-bit (PDF 1.7+ Extension Level 3). These cover the vast majority of password-protected PDFs created by tools like Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, and LibreOffice.
What happens to print, copy and edit restrictions?
When a PDF is decrypted, all security restrictions are removed along with the encryption. This includes print restrictions, copy/extract restrictions, edit/modify restrictions, fill form restrictions, and annotation restrictions. The output PDF is completely unrestricted and has no password of any kind.
Why does my password not work?
If your password is rejected, check: (1) Caps Lock is off — PDF passwords are case-sensitive; (2) You are entering the open/user password, not an owner password (which you may not know); (3) The PDF may use a non-standard encryption format not fully supported by PDF-lib. If none of these help, the password may simply be incorrect.
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