About Unlock PDF
Unlock PDF removes a password from a PDF you own. Drop the file, enter the password, and download an unlocked copy. The whole flow runs in your browser, so the password and the file never reach a server.
PDFVibe uses a hybrid path: it tries pdf-lib first to preserve selectable text, then falls back to rasterization if the PDF uses an encryption mode pdf-lib can't handle.
Only use this on PDFs you have the right to unlock. We don't bypass passwords; you must enter the correct one.
How to unlock pdf in your browser
- 01Open the unlocker
Visit pdfvibe.app/tools/unlock.
- 02Drop your locked PDF
Drag the file in.
- 03Enter the password
Type the password you set or were given. It's never transmitted.
- 04Unlock
PDFVibe decrypts in your browser. Text is preserved when possible.
- 05Download
Save the unlocked PDF locally.
Frequently asked questions
Will it preserve selectable text?
Yes when possible — we try pdf-lib first to keep text selectable, then fall back to rasterization only if needed.
Can it crack a password I forgot?
No. You must know the password. We don't bypass encryption.
Is the password uploaded?
Never. It's used in your browser to derive the decryption key, then discarded.
Is this legal?
It's legal to unlock PDFs you own and have the password for. Don't use this on documents you weren't given access to.
Adobe alternative?
Yes — and unlike Adobe's online unlocker, your file and password never leave your machine.
Most online PDF tools — Adobe Acrobat Online, iLovePDF, Smallpdf — upload your file to their servers, run the operation, then send the result back. PDFVibe runs the same operation in your browser using WebAssembly and pdf-lib. The file never travels anywhere. Open your browser’s Network tab while using Unlock PDF and you’ll see no outbound file transfers.