TL;DR:
If you forget your PDF password, you can instantly strip standard encryption using free cross-platform browser tools like PDF24 and Smallpdf, or recover advanced passwords using brute-force services like LostMyPass.
● LostMyPass attempts to recover forgotten passwords by brute force, offering free retrieval for weak passwords with a 22% success rate and charging $29 to $39 for complex passwords, limited to files under 100 MB.
● Windows users can utilize the offline Weeny's Free PDF Password Remover to strip both user and owner passwords, provided they are not running Windows 8 or 11.
● Premium offline recovery tools carry heavy restrictions; UPDF strictly requires you to already know the password to remove it, and Eltima's $39.95 recovery software is incompatible with Windows 11 and macOS versions after Mojave 10.14.
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Forgetting a PDF password does not always mean the file is gone forever. The best solution depends on the type of lock: a user password blocks opening the PDF, while an owner password may only restrict editing, printing, copying, or signing.
Start by searching for the original password in your password manager, written notes, email thread, or messages from the sender. If that fails, use a reliable PDF password recovery or remover tool only for files you own or have permission to unlock.
What to Do if You Forgot Your PDF Password
If you forget a PDF password, you can try to find it or use a reliable PDF password remover or recovery tool.
Which PDF Unlocking Method Should You Use?
| Situation | Best Solution | What It Can Do |
| You remember where the password may be saved | Check notes, password manager, email, or sender messages | Find the original PDF password safely |
| The PDF opens but blocks editing or printing | Use a PDF owner password remover | Remove permission restrictions from an accessible PDF |
| The PDF will not open without a password | Use a PDF password recovery tool | Attempt to recover the user password through dictionary or brute-force methods |
| The PDF file was deleted or lost | Use Wondershare Recoverit | Recover the missing PDF file from local storage devices |
Having it in a place other than your memory is a prerequisite for finding it, so that option doesn't work otherwise. Password recovery tools are few and far between, but they can recover your PDF password using brute force.
However, a trusted tool for removing the encryption is the fastest way to regain access to your locked PDF.
Let's see how to find a PDF password before exploring the best online and offline tools for unlocking PDF files.
How to Find a PDF Password if You Forgot It
Before using any PDF password remover, try to locate the original password. This is safer, faster, and avoids unnecessary file processing.
- Check any notebook, password sheet, or local text file where you may have recorded the PDF password.
- Open your password manager and search for the file name, sender name, project name, or related account.
- Search your email inbox for the PDF file name, the words password, access code, or the sender's name.
- Review messaging apps or shared workspaces where the PDF was originally sent.
- Contact the sender and ask them to resend the password or provide an unlocked copy if you are authorized to access the document.
If none of these methods works, choose a PDF password remover or recovery tool based on whether you need online convenience, offline privacy, or actual password recovery.
Best Online Tools for Unlocking PDF Files
The following four online tools are your best bet for removing a forgotten PDF password without software. The best part? They don't cost a dime.
Online PDF Unlocking Tools Comparison
| Online Tool | Best For | Key Limitation |
| PDF24 Unlock PDF | Quick browser-based PDF password removal and general PDF tasks | Works best when the file can be decrypted by standard unlocking methods |
| LostMyPass PDF Password Recovery | Recovering weak or pattern-based PDF passwords | Complex passwords may require paid recovery and longer processing |
| Smallpdf Unlock PDF | Simple online PDF unlocking across desktop and mobile browsers | May require the password for advanced encryption |
| Small SEO Tools Unlock PDF | Free web access with uploads from computer, Dropbox, or Google Drive | Feature depth is more basic than dedicated PDF suites |
PDF24' Unlock PDF
PDF24 offers 30+ free online PDF tools, helping you create, edit, merge, compress, and convert PDFs. It's compatible with all web browsers across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. Windows users can also enjoy PDF24 Creator, a desktop version for offline use.
Its Unlock PDF solution lets you remove PDF passwords within seconds. You only need to upload a locked PDF from your computer or use a drag-and-drop functionality.
You don't need to worry about file protection. PDF24 uses secure SSL transfers and automatically deletes PDFs from its servers after one hour. You'll also love the tool's support for unlimited files and no size restrictions.
LostMyPass PDF Password Recovery
LostMyPass offers an excellent online password recovery tool for PDF, MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files and archives (Zip, RAR, and 7z). You only need to upload your locked PDF and let LostMyPass use brute force to discover the password and unlock your file. It supports all browsers and systems; the only limit is a maximum file size of 100 MB.
Unfortunately, you can only recover weak passwords for free, with a 22% probability of success. Retrieving complex PDF passwords costs between $29 and $39 (depending on the Adobe Acrobat version) and has a 61% success rate. The good news is you only pay if the tool recovers your password.
However, LostMyPass can brute-force your PDF password with a 100% success rate, but only if you know the password mask (the character set and maximum length). The pricing is available upon request.
Smallpdf's Unlock PDF
Smallpdf is similar to PDF24, offering 23+ free online tools for converting, editing, merging, splitting, compressing, scanning, signing, protecting, and unlocking PDF files. Its Unlock PDF password remover can decrypt your PDFs within seconds and won't limit you to a specific file size.
However, it can't unlock PDFs with advanced encryption; they require a password. Speaking of encryption, Smallpdf uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) to protect files during transfer. It also doesn't store passwords and deletes uploaded files from its servers after an hour.
You can use Smallpdf's Unlock PDF and other tools on any browser, whether you forget a PDF password on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Small SEO Tools' Unlock PDF
Small SEO Tools is a treasure trove of valuable solutions. It has nearly 350 tools (free and premium) for managing websites, passwords, domains, keywords, backImage names, images, and text. They also include gems for developers, online calculators, credit card validators, and what have you.
As for PDF options, you have 35 free tools to manage your documents, including the user-friendly Unlock PDF. It lets you upload a locked PDF from a computer, Dropbox, or Google Drive (or drag and drop it) and download the unlocked version to your device.
It's ideal if you forget a PDF password on mobile or desktop, being compatible with all browsers and systems (Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux).
Best Offline Tools for Unlocking PDF Files
Why would you need an offline tool to unlock PDF files when their online counterparts let you do it in seconds without installing software? Well, many have more extensive features for managing PDFs. They're ideal if you regularly work with PDF files, especially work-related documents that require protecting sensitive information. Here are the top offline PDF password removers to consider.
Offline PDF Unlocking Tools Comparison
| Offline Tool | Supported System | Best For | Main Limitation |
| UPDF | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Editing, converting, annotating, protecting, and managing PDFs | Password removal generally requires knowing the password |
| Recover PDF Password by Eltima | Windows and macOS | Trying dictionary, network, or brute-force recovery | Free version is limited and newer OS support may be restricted |
| PDF Password Remover Tool | Windows | Removing owner restrictions from accessible PDFs | Does not decrypt PDFs you cannot open |
| Weeny Free PDF Password Remover | Windows | Removing user and owner passwords for supported files | Not available on every Windows version |
UPDF
UPDF is an advanced, AI-powered PDF editor for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It lets you edit, convert, annotate, summarize, translate, merge, sign, and protect PDFs. You can create and fill forms, change backgrounds, add watermarks for copyright protection, redact text to safeguard sensitive information, and set passwords and permissions.
The only downside is you can only remove PDF passwords if you know them. Still, you can use UPDF for free, albeit with limited functionalities.
The free version includes password protection (among other features) but adds a watermark to your documents. It also provides 1 GB of UPDF Cloud storage, with a maximum file size of 10 MB. However, you can unlock all features with an annual subscription ($32.99/year) or a perpetual license ($52.99).
Recover PDF Password by Eltima
Eltima's Recover PDF Password software is available for Windows and macOS users. It lets you use network, dictionary, and brute-force search to find lost PDF passwords and unlock your documents.
It supports Unicode password recovery and can retrieve user and owner passwords. The best part is it saves the recovered PDF passwords for future reference.
The software can also decrypt PDF files (if you know user or owner passwords) and remove digital signatures.
Unfortunately, the free version leaves much to be desired. The network and brute-force search only work for weak passwords (no longer than four characters), while a dictionary recovery will only show the first and last characters. Additionally, PDF decryption will open the first page only and add a watermark.
Therefore, you might need the premium version, which is available for $39.95. However, it doesn't support Windows 11 or macOS versions after Mojave (10.14).
PDF Password Remover Tool
PDF Technologies' PDF Password Remover Tool is a free solution for Windows users looking to remove owner passwords from locked PDF documents. Therefore, it will enable you to edit the PDFs you can access, not decrypt those you can't open.
That might be a deal-breaker, besides the fact that removing owner passwords is this software's only feature. Still, it does its job seamlessly, making it a fine addition to your Windows toolbox.
The best part? It's entirely free.
Weeny's Free PDF Password Remover
Weeny's Free PDF Password Remover is another Windows software available free of charge. Its no-frills interface resembles the PDF Technologies' tool but has a significant advantage over it. Namely, it can remove user and owner passwords, making it perfect for all forgetful users.
Don't worry when the tool asks for your password once you upload a locked PDF. Click Cancel and initiate the process.
Unfortunately, this software isn't available on Windows 8 and 11.
Best Practices to Ensure You Don't Forget Your PDF Passwords
Remembering passwords has become challenging due to all the digital services we use daily. That's why many people rely on weak, easy-to-remember passwords and, what's worse, reuse them. You don't want to do either if securing your documents is your top priority.
The safest way to avoid forgotten PDF passwords is to combine a password manager with unique, memorable password rules. Avoid reusing the same password across documents or accounts.
- Store PDF passwords in a trusted password manager and protect the vault with a strong master password.
- Name each entry clearly with the PDF file name, project name, sender, or document type.
- Create unique passwords for sensitive PDFs instead of reusing one common password.
- Use a memorable passphrase with numbers, symbols, and capitalization, such as a short private sentence that only you understand.
- Keep a secure backup of critical passwords in an encrypted vault or authorized company password system.
- For shared work documents, define who owns the password and where the authorized recovery record is stored.
Bonus Tip: How to Recover Lost PDF Files
If the locked PDF file itself is missing, deleted, or lost after formatting, malware, storage errors, or accidental removal, a PDF unlocking tool will not help because there is no file to unlock. In this case, use Wondershare Recoverit to scan the original storage location and recover the lost PDF document first.
Wondershare Recoverit supports recovery for PDF documents and many other file formats from Windows and macOS computers, external drives, USB drives, SD cards, and other local storage devices.
Therefore, download the correct version to your computer and follow these steps to recover lost PDF files:
- Install and open Wondershare Recoverit on your Windows or macOS computer.
- Go to Hard Drives and Locations and select the drive or folder where the missing PDF was stored.
- Start the scan and wait while the software searches for deleted or lost files.
- Use the file type filter or search bar to narrow the results to PDF documents.
- Preview the recoverable PDF files when available and select the files you need.
- Click Recover and save the restored PDF to a different location instead of the original folder.
Conclusion
Unlocking a PDF file with a specialized tool is your only hope if your mind draws a blank and you can't pull the password from your memory. Your best online options for removing PDF passwords are PDF24, Smallpdf, and Small SEO Tools, while LostMyPass can help you recover them.
Your top Windows-exclusive offline options are Weeney's Free PDF Password Remover and PDF Technologies' PDF Password Remover Tool. Eltima's Recover PDF Password also supports macOS.
However, UPDF beats them all, providing multiple features for managing PDFs across all devices.
FAQ
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Can I unlock a PDF if I forgot the password?
Yes, but the method depends on the lock type. If the PDF blocks opening, you need the original password or a password recovery tool. If the PDF opens but restricts editing, printing, or copying, a PDF owner password remover may help. -
What is the difference between a user password and an owner password in a PDF?
A user password prevents the PDF from opening. An owner password usually controls permissions such as editing, copying, printing, signing, or commenting after the PDF is already open. -
Are online PDF password removers safe?
Online PDF password removers are convenient, but you should avoid uploading sensitive, financial, legal, or confidential files unless you trust the provider's security and deletion policy. For private work documents, an offline tool is usually safer. -
Can Wondershare Recoverit unlock a password-protected PDF?
Wondershare Recoverit is used to recover lost or deleted PDF files from local storage devices. It does not directly remove a PDF password. After recovering the file, use the original password or a dedicated PDF unlocking tool if the document is still encrypted.
