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PDFs are a widely used format for sharing documents online. However, sometimes they may be secured with a permission password that restricts access, editing, or printing of the document. This could be inconvenient for the user and cause delays in the workflow.
Removing the permission password from a PDF is not a difficult task, although it may require some specific tools. In this blog post, we will explore various methods to remove permission passwords from a PDF. We will also address some fixes if you face difficulty performing this task.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Remove Permission Password from PDF
Password-protected PDFs are a way to protect confidential information from unauthorized access. However, since they restrict most actions such as copying, editing, or printing, it may not be feasible for the end-user. Removing the password can help users access the PDF without any hassle and enable actions such as printing, editing, or copying.
Some of the reasons to remove permission passwords from a PDF are:
- To send a PDF to someone who does not know the password.
- To speed up the workflow as the user will not have to enter a password each time for performing basic actions like opening, copying, printing, or editing the document.
- To archive important documents with no password protection to ensure future compatibility with newer software versions.
Method 1: Using Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a widely used browser that can help users remove password protection from PDFs. However, this method will only work for PDFs with a permission password that restricts actions like printing, copying text, or editing.
Here are the steps to remove password protection using Google Chrome:
1. Open Google Chrome and drag the PDF file into the browser.
2. The browser will prompt you to enter the password.
3. Enter the password and press enter. The PDF will open in the browser.
4. Go to the file menu and Click on ‘Print’ or else use ‘Ctrl+P’.
5. Choose the destination printer and click ‘Print’ button and save the document that is now a password-free PDF.
Pros:
- Quick and easy method.
- Does not require additional software.
- Works on multiple platforms.
Cons:
- Only works for PDFs with permission passwords that restrict printing, copying, or editing.
- May not work for PDFs that have an open password or both open and permission passwords.
Method 2: Using Adobe Acrobat DC
Adobe Acrobat DC is a well-known tool used for creating, editing, and capturing PDF. This tool can be used to remove password protection from PDFs. Adobe Acrobat DC offers a free trial version to use for limited time.
Here is how to use Adobe Acrobat DC to remove password protection from a PDF:
1. Download Adobe Acrobat DC from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Open the PDF with password protection.
3. Enter the password to open the document.
4. Go to the ‘Tools’ menu and select ‘Protect’.
5. Select the option “Encrypt” and choose “Remove Security”.
6. Enter the password again for validation, then save the file.
Pros:
- Effective on PDFs with permission passwords and open passwords.
- Allows batch processing to remove password protection from multiple PDFs.
- Offers more advanced options such as adding signature, watermark, and redacting text.
Cons:
- Requires a paid subscription and installation on the computer.
- The interface may be complex for non-acrobat users.
- May not be the quickest method available.
Method 3: Using Smallpdf
Smallpdf is a free online tool that can manage all kinds of PDF tasks such as convert, compress, sign, and more. The tool can also remove password protection from PDF files.
Here is how to use Smallpdf to remove password protection from PDFs:
1. Go to the SmallPdf website and click on the ‘Unlock PDF’ option on the homepage.
2. Upload the PDF with the password protection.
3. Enter the password to unlock the document.
4. Click ‘Unlock PDF’ to remove password restrictions.
5. Download the unlocked PDF.
Pros:
- Free and easy-to-use web-based tool.
- Allows removing password restrictions from multiple PDFs at once.
- The website offers a wide range of tools to manage PDF tasks.
Cons:
- May not work for large-sized PDFs and slow internet speeds.
- While the tool is free, the website may add a watermark to the unlocked PDF.
What to Do If You Can’t Remove Password Protection from PDF
There may be times when despite following all steps, the password protection may not be removed from the PDF. Here are some fixes to perform if you face such issues:
- Ensure that you are using the correct password to unlock the PDF.
- Check if the PDF has both an open and permission password. If yes, try removing the open password before removing the permission password.
- Try removing password protection using a different tool or method as mentioned above.
- Check if the PDF is corrupted. If yes, try repairing it before removing password protection.
Bonus Tip
Always remember to keep the password protection handy with you before removing the password restrictions from the PDF file. It can be used to re-apply password protection after performing necessary actions.
5 FAQs for Removing Permission Password from PDF
Q1: Can I remove the password protection from a PDF on my smartphone?
A: While some online tools can be accessed via smartphones to remove password protection from PDFs, it is recommended to use a desktop computer to perform this task for better accuracy.
Q2: How to distinguish between open passwords and permission passwords?
A: The open password is required to open the PDF, while the permission password is needed to perform actions such as printing, editing, or copying text from the PDF.
Q3: How to remove password protection from multiple PDFs at once?
A: Only Adobe Acrobat DC offers the option to batch process multiple PDFs to remove password protection. Users can select ‘Tools’ then ‘Redact’ and choose ‘Remove hidden information’ to remove password protection from multiple PDFs at once.
Q4: Can I remove opening and permission passwords using Google Chrome?
A: Google Chrome can only remove password restrictions on PDFs that feature permission passwords.
Q5: Is it possible to recover a password-protected PDF if I forget my password?
A: No, it is not possible to recover a password-protected PDF if you forget the password. Ensure that you keep a written record of the password to re-apply password protection if necessary.
Final Thoughts
Removing password protection from a PDF can be an easy task if you follow the correct steps using the right tool. We have explored various methods such as using Google Chrome, Adobe Acrobat DC, and Smallpdf, that can help you remove the password restriction. Ensure that you keep a backup of the password to re-apply password protection if necessary, and check for fixes if you are unable to remove password protection from the PDF.{"@context":"https://schema.org”,"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":" Can I remove the password protection from a PDF on my smartphone?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" While some online tools can be accessed via smartphones to remove password protection from PDFs, it is recommended to use a desktop computer to perform this task for better accuracy."}},{"@type":"Question","name":" How to distinguish between open passwords and permission passwords?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" The open password is required to open the PDF, while the permission password is needed to perform actions such as printing, editing, or copying text from the PDF."}},{"@type":"Question","name":" How to remove password protection from multiple PDFs at once?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" Only Adobe Acrobat DC offers the option to batch process multiple PDFs to remove password protection. Users can select ‘Tools’ then ‘Redact’ and choose ‘Remove hidden information’ to remove password protection from multiple PDFs at once."}},{"@type":"Question","name":" Can I remove opening and permission passwords using Google Chrome?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" Google Chrome can only remove password restrictions on PDFs that feature permission passwords."}},{"@type":"Question","name":" Is it possible to recover a password-protected PDF if I forget my password?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" No, it is not possible to recover a password-protected PDF if you forget the password. Ensure that you keep a written record of the password to re-apply password protection if necessary."}}]}
