How to Remove a PDF Password on Mac.

How do I remove a PDF password on Mac?

The fastest way: open this page in any Mac browser, choose the protected PDF, enter the password you know, and download the unlocked copy. Nothing is uploaded — the file stays in the browser tab on your device, and there is no account or install.

Option 1: The private browser tool

1. Open this page in Safari, Chrome, or another Mac browser.
2. Select your password-protected PDF in the tool above.
3. Enter the current open password.
4. Choose Image-based (most compatible) or Direct decryption.
5. Download the unlocked copy.

Option 2: The built-in Preview app

Open the PDF in Preview and enter the password when prompted. Then choose File > Export, and save a new copy without adding a password. Preview keeps selectable text and the original structure, so it is a good choice when those matter.

Step by step in Preview:

1. Double-click the PDF so it opens in Preview, and enter the open password.
2. Choose File > Export (not "Export as PDF" on older macOS — either works).
3. In the export dialog, make sure the Encrypt checkbox is unticked and no password is set.
4. Give the file a new name and click Save. The exported copy opens without a prompt.

An alternative is File > Print, then in the print dialog choose PDF > Save as PDF. This re-creates the document without the open password and works even in some cases where Export is unavailable, though it can flatten a few interactive elements much like the image-based browser method.

Which should I use?

Use Preview when you want to preserve selectable text and the original structure with a built-in app, and you are already at your Mac. Use the browser tool when you want a quick, no-setup option that behaves the same across your Mac, iPhone, and Android devices, or when you are helping someone who does not have a Mac. Both require the current open password and cannot recover a forgotten one.

Unlocking several PDFs

If you have a handful of files that share the same password, Preview handles them one at a time through Export. For a quick series, the browser tool is often faster because you can drop the next file in as soon as the previous download finishes, without navigating export dialogs. Whichever route you take, keep the originals until you have confirmed each unlocked copy opens correctly.

Troubleshooting on Mac

• Export is greyed out or still asks for a password. The file may carry a permissions (owner) password separate from the open password. Preview can export once the document is open, but some restricted files require the owner's authorization.
• Text is not selectable after unlocking. If you used the browser tool's image-based method, switch to Direct decryption, or use Preview's Export to keep the text layer intact.
• Preview says the password is incorrect. Check for a trailing space or a mismatched keyboard layout. Copy the password from a trusted note and paste it to rule out typing errors.