Unlock a PDF
Remove the password from a PDF you own.
- Browser-based — no install
- Files private to your account
- Up to 250 MB on Pro
Drop in a password-protected PDF you own, type the current password, and we produce an unprotected version you can edit, print, search, and share normally. Useful when you’ve been sent a locked PDF you have legitimate access to but your tools can’t open.
How it works
Right in your browser, no install
Flint PDF runs entirely in your browser. Drop a file in, do the thing, get the file out.
- 1
Upload the locked PDF
Drop in your password-protected file. Flint detects the encryption automatically.
- 2
Enter the current password
Type the password you already have for the file. We use it to decrypt and immediately discard it — it isn’t stored anywhere.
- 3
Download the unlocked copy
Get a normal PDF that opens in any reader without a password. The original locked file is kept as a previous version.
What it's for
Built for real work
Edit a locked document you own
Strip the password from a contract or report you have legitimate access to so your editing tools can read it.
Reuse a password-protected scan
Some scanners output protected PDFs by default — unlock once and use the file freely going forward.
Share with someone who shouldn’t need a password
When the original sender locked a file unnecessarily, produce a clean copy you can share with collaborators.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Can you unlock a PDF if I don’t know the password?
- No. Unlock PDF requires the current password — we don’t crack encryption. If you don’t have legitimate access, ask the original sender to send you an unlocked version.
- When does Unlock PDF launch?
- It's in active development — we'll announce when it's live. In the meantime, Adobe Acrobat, Preview (macOS), and many other tools can remove a password locally if you have it.
- Do you store my password?
- No. The password is used to decrypt the file and then immediately discarded — it isn’t logged, saved, or sent anywhere.
- Does it work for permissions passwords (no-copy, no-print)?
- Yes. The unlocked output has no restrictions — you can copy, print, and edit freely.
- Is it legal to unlock a PDF?
- When you have legitimate access to the file (you own it, you have the password, or you’re authorised to handle it) — yes. Flint can’t unlock files without their password regardless.
- Is it free?
- Try it free in the browser. Downloading the unlocked PDF requires a Flint Pro plan.
- Are my files private?
- Yes. Files are processed only for the action you trigger and never shared.
More from Flint PDF
More PDF tools
Built browser-side, share the same editor.
Edit
Change what's on the page.
Organize
Rearrange or combine pages and files.
Merge PDF
Combine multiple PDFs into a single document.
Split PDF
Cut a PDF into one or many smaller files.
Reorder PDF Pages
Drag pages into the order you actually want.
Rotate PDF Pages
Spin selected pages 90°, 180°, or 270° in one click.
Delete PDF Pages
Remove pages from a PDF — single pages or whole ranges.
Export
Optimize or convert for sharing.