How to Remove a Password from a PDF (Bills, Pay Stubs, and Statements)

The Two Types of PDF Protection

• Open password: You can’t open the PDF without it. This is common for credit card bills, utility bills, bank statements, and pay stubs sent by email.
• Permission restrictions: The PDF opens normally but blocks printing, copying text, or editing.

For the first type, you need to enter the password to remove it. For the second, the tool removes the restrictions without a password.

What’s the password for my document?

Banks, service providers, and companies often include the password instructions in the email or message that came with the PDF. Common passwords include:

• the first few digits of your national ID number (the number of digits varies by company);
• your full national ID number, without spaces or punctuation;
• your date of birth or a combination of your birth date and part of your ID number.

If you can’t find the instructions, check the issuer’s website or app—many let you download another copy without a password.

How to remove a password, step by step

1. Open Unlock PDF and select one or more PDFs.
2. Enter the open password. If the file only has restrictions, leave the field blank.
3. Click Unlock PDF and download the password-free copy.

Now you can combine all your bills from the year into a single file with Merge PDF—handy for filing your taxes or applying for a loan.

When it’s allowed—and what we don’t do

Only use this tool on documents that are yours or that you’re authorized to open. The tool doesn’t crack passwords: it won’t guess combinations or bypass encryption. Without the correct password, a PDF with an opening password remains locked.

Keep in mind that anyone who receives the unlocked file can access it. If you need to share it, add a new password with Protect PDF. Avoid unlocking digitally signed PDFs: saving the file again may invalidate the signature.

Frequently asked questions