PDFs are the portable file format for keeping your reports, research papers, ebooks, survey documents, and more. Many users often secure them with great security or protection, such as a password and restrictions. If the password is no longer needed, you might have questions like can a password protected PDF be unlocked​. Now, move down to discover the stepwise guidance for unlocking PDFs. 

Understanding of PDF File Security & Protection 

Before jumping to the answer of “can a password protected PDF be unlocked”, let’s first discover the type of PDF protection. PDFs are simple and portable documents. These days, sharing unprotected PDFs holds a grave risk of data loss. Here, it is essential to protect PDF from screenshots, editing, content copying, and more. To ensure security, a professional uses the user and owner permissions password. 

Using these protections, you can safeguard the information from misuse and tampering. Mainly, there are two types of security for a PDF document. Below is the breakdown of protection: 

• User Document Password: If your document asks for a password, it certainly means that the PDF is protected with a user or open password. This security prevents users from opening or viewing the PDF file. Plus, it applies to document safety, especially for PDFs that have confidential information. 

• Owner Permissions Security: Despite the user password, some PDFs hold restrictions for editing, content copying, printing, and more. This is known as the owner permissions password. It helps to safeguard the PDF from changes and unauthorized editing. This way, you can ensure safe sharing of data. 

Overall, these PDF protections are used to protect the PDF files from malicious intentions. Using these permissions, you can ensure document safety and originality at once. Besides the benefits, there are various instances where you seek ways to convert password PDF to normal PDF document. Now, let’s dive to learn them. 

Can a Password Protected PDF be Unlocked​?

Many of you might have questions like “can a locked PDF be unlocked?” Fortunately, you can convert the protected PDF document into an unprotected one using tools like a strongly encrypted PDF password remover. These tools are fast and reliable for users when needed for unlocking PDF documents. Whether it’s a user or an owner password, these tools let you disable the permissions and protection in one go. 

This way, you can manage or access the PDF for free. In other words, you can make necessary changes within the PDF document. Now, if you’re searching for ways to convert locked PDF to an unlocked document, follow the step-by-step guide. 

How to Access Password Protected PDF to Unlocked - Online PDF Websites 

Previously, we have explained whether can a password protected PDF be unlocked​. Here, we are going to discover the ways to open the secured PDF document. Using the online PDF tools like iLovePDF, PDF2Go, Smallpdf, PDF24 Creators, etc, you can simply unprotect your PDF document. It allows you to access the PDF for multiple purposes without depending on the owner's permissions or password. 

Speaking about the online websites, these are handy and navigational for all. Using these platforms, you can easily open the PDF files without installing the software. Follow the steps below to convert the password protected PDF to unlocked one using online PDF tools: 

1. Start by opening the free online tools like iLovePDF. 

2. “Drag & Drop” the necessary PDF document into the interface. 

3. Manually enter the document password > re-enter it. 

4. Finally, download the unlocked PDF document on your system. 

Pros: Simple, free, and offers batch processing for all. 

Cons: Uploading your sensitive document to a third-party server is hazardous. It is recommended not to upload data to online tools. Moreover, it leads to data compromise or leakage at once. 

Can a Password Protected PDF be Unlocked - Try Adobe Acrobat Tool 

To convert the protected PDF to unlocked one, use professional software like Adobe Acrobat Pro. Whether you’re a professional or an individual user, this utility can serve all your needs. Using this profound tool, you can effortlessly open or unlock the password protected document. Besides this, the tool equally works with owner permissions. In this way, you can quickly disable the security.

The other highlights of this software include fast processing and powerful functioning. Using this advanced tool, you can unlock all the PDFs in batch mode. Here are the stepwise guide for can a locked PDF be unlocked using Adobe Acrobat Pro Tool: 

1. Firstly, install and run the above tool named Adobe Acrobat. 

2. Use the File feature and move to Tools > select the Encrypt. 

3. After this, choose No Security under the Security option. 

4. Now, type the correct document passkey > use it . 

5. Finally, use the OK button and download the PDF. 

Pros: The professional-grade tool for unlocking PDF files. 

Cons: Acrobat is expensive software compared to all the other solutions. So, look for the better options. 

Can a Locked PDF be Unlocked - SysTools Pro Utility 

To disable the security, use SysTools PDF Password Remover, the powerful and best alternative software to the Adobe Acrobat tool. Using this advanced tool, you can unprotected the PDF document having a password and owner permissions. The software is useful for both Windows and macOS machines. Most importantly, it lets you to batch unlock the protected PDF documents. 

Compared to other tools, this is cost-effective and highly recommended to all. Besides this, it allows you to remove the protection such as editing, content printing, copying, and more. Now, follow the steps for converting the locked PDF to unlocked one using SysTools Pro Utility: 

1. Open and download the above mentioned SysTools Pro software. 

2. “Add Files or Folder” function for uploading the document. 

3. Under the Password section > manually enter the passkey. 

4. Tab Save and then, use Change icon to set the location. 

5. Finally, press the Unlock button to disable the locked status. 

Final Words 

In the above guide, we have listed the ways to “can a password protected PDF be unlocked​”. Using these methods, you can effortlessly unlock the PDF and access the document for free. Since all the techniques have major limitations, use the SysTools software for unlocking the PDF files in batch mode.