As with the times before this digital era, a locked PDF, in simple terms, is a document that has been password-protected to keep anyone other than you from entering it. The password is used to safeguard the vital information of the user. But at certain points, locked PDFs might be a harassment to the user if suddenly the password is forgotten and they are locked out of one file that needs access. Whenever this happens, the user will have to look for a way to learn how to unlock a secure PDF without password at any cost.

In this guide, we have covered the top three ways to easily remove password from a PDF file. So whether you forget the password or lose access to PDF files, these solutions will help you to unlock your PDF docs with less effort. Alright, here goes nothing…

Why do you want to unlock a Locked PDF without Password?

 There could be many reasons why you need to unlock a PDF without a password. Sometimes you need to open a PDF file and are unable to do so, leading to limited access to some important content or files. Some reasons are mentioned below:

• Forgotten Password

Most of the users have forgotten their PDF password due to this issue arises when they are unable to open their own PDF file. Once they unlock the password-protected PDF, they can directly download their unlocked PDF file.

• Lost Access to the Document

For instance, if you saved the file as a PDF on a computer that is no longer functional or used a cloud service that requires you to pay again to access your file, you will be left without resources and unable to access the content. 

• Missing or Unshared Password

If you picked the document up from someone else or it was done by a colleague, it might be that they forgot to mention or simply never told you of the password, and now here you are being locked out.

How to Unlock a locked PDF without Password?

Are you seeking a way to unlock a locked PDF file? Here are three of the best and different methods available, which depend on the level of password and encryption applied to the PDF document. Below are some effective and simple ways to unlock a PDF without a password:

1. Use Online Tools to Unlock a Locked PDF File.

2. Use Adobe Acrobat Pro to Open a Locked PDF.

3. Use the SysTools PDF Password Remover Tool.

Now, let’s understand these tools elaborately.

#1 How to Unlock a PDF Document without Password- Using Online Tools

Online tools like SmallPDF, ILovePDF, and many more tools are free to use and can also quickly unlock PDF files. These tools work best with PDFs with an open password, and there is no need to install any software. These tools operate directly through the browser, requiring only an internet connection. Below are the steps to follow:

1. Open an online PDF unlocking website.

2. Browse and upload the locked PDF.

3. The tool will remove the password protection.

4. After the process, download the unlocked PDF file.

PROS:

• Fast and simple to use.

• No need to install any type of software.

• Free for doing basic tasks.

CONS:

• Online tools are not suitable for PDFs with strong encryption.

• In the free version, a user can only attempt basic tasks.

#2 How to Unlock a Locked PDF Without Password- Using Adobe Acrobat Pro

Adobe Acrobat is a pro tool to unlock a locked PDF document without password. This tool offers many features for PDF management, which include password removal if you are aware of the password. There is a need to install this pro tool. Let’s learn the steps for using this tool:

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro on your systems.

2. Fill in the password in the required field.

3. Open the document and select the File > Properties option.

4. Open the security tab and select the No Security option given.

5. Lastly, save as an unlocked PDF.

PROS:

• This is a reliable and professional tool.

• Allows full control over the PDF document.

CONS:

• Always requires a paid subscription to access advanced features.

• It works only if the user knows the password.

#3 Use PDF Password Remover—Unlock a Locked PDF 

If you are looking for specialized software to remove both user and owner passwords. Here is the SysTools PDF Unlocker tool that unlock a locked PDF document using simple steps in one click. It supports advanced methods without compromising data integrity. Follow the steps below to use the above software:

1. Install and run the above-listed software.

2. Select the Add Files & Add Folders options.

3. Choose Password needs to be removed.

4. Select Save > Change option to remove security

5. Finally, choose Unlock to remove protection from PDF document. 

PROS:

• Provides an advanced feature to unlock a locked PDF.

• Supports the removal of both user and owner passwords.

• Provides an option for batch processing.

Overall, these are the best three ways or techniques to understand how to unlock a locked PDF document without password easily. If you need to discover the best PDF unlocker tools, then read the mentioned article.

Concluding Words

In the above article, we have discussed the 3 best techniques to understand how to unlock a locked PDF without password efficiently. Each method depends on the needs and preferences of users. Online tools and Pro Tools are easy to use but have some limitations, but using advanced software can help you easily unlock a locked PDF document in a hassle-free way. So, it’s your choice to choose the right solution.