4 Methods | How to Open Password Protected PDF 2025

Hello there, I have my PDF document encrypted with a password, and now I'm finding it hard to recall the password. Is there any way I could get the password back? The document means a lot to me.

Are you faced with the same issue as above? Well, we've got the profound solution you seek here in this article.

Protecting your PDF document with a password is amongst the perfect ways to prevent third parties from accessing the data or information stored in it. However, situations may arise when you can't recall one or all of the characters used in protecting the file. So how do you go about it? Well, continue reading, and you will find out!

• Part 1. How to Open Password Protected PDF in Windows 10 via EaseUS PDF Editor
• Part 2. How to Open Locked PDF with Adobe Acrobat
• Part 3. How to Open PDF with Password Using Google Drive
• Part 4. How to Open Locked Protected PDF using Google Chrome

How to Password Protected PDF in Windows 10/11 via EaseUS PDF Editor

EaseUS PDF Editor is an all-in-one PDF editing software built specifically for Windows. This intuitive user interface toolkit lets you decrypt or open password-protected PDF documents without altering the data or information stored in them.

The software is designed with rich editing features such as the deletion of texts, extraction, reordering, cropping, flipping, or rotation of PDF files, and many others. In addition to this, this Windows PDF editor has other stunning features; merging, compression, and the creation of PDF files. Furthermore, it supports conversion between PDF and other source files. You could also customize your PDFs using it, such as add watermark to PDF, and so on.

Stunning Features:

• Easily edit scanned documents using the OCR feature
• Compress, split, extract, and create a PDF
• Encrypt and decrypt password-protected PDF documents
• Convert PDF to JPG on Windows 10 with ease
• Supports the addition of bates numbering to several PDF files

Stepwise Guide to Open Password Protected PDF File on Windows 11/10:

Firstly, download a compatible version of this program on your Windows OS. Install and then launch it for operation.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS PDF Editor and click "Open" to import the password-protected PDF file.

Step 2. Click "Remove password" in the next window. When a pop-up window asking if you are sure to remove security, click "Yes". Then, click the "Save" button. And the password will be removed.

Step 3. If you want to save the unprotected file to other formats, just click "Convert" from the upper menu. You may choose to export it to Word, Excel, PPT, TXT, HTML, and even image files.

🔧Difficulty Level: ⭐

⏱️Estimated Time:  2-3 minutes

How to Open Locked PDF with Adobe Acrobat

Another powerful PDF editing software that can be used to unlock a password-encrypted PDF file is Adobe Acrobat. The toolkit is designed for multiple PDF-related services like reading, conversion, splitting, combination, and sharing of PDF files.

Also, you could use it to import and export data to PDF forms with high quality. However, you need to subscribe to a premium plan to access all the wonderful features of the software- one of the limiting factors of the toolkit.

Features:

• Flatten a PDF in Adobe with ease
• Edit the text, form, and images in PDF

How to open password protected PDF with Adobe:

Step 1. Launch the password-protected PDF file using Adobe Acrobat Pro, and then enter the password used to lock it.

Step 2. Select "File" > "Properties". Better yet you could hit on the "Permission Details" tab.

Step 3. Underneath the "Security" tab, select "Security Method," and a drop-down menu with several options will pop up. Choose "No Security", then save the file to your hard drive without security.

🔧Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐⭐

⏱️Estimated Time:  4-7 minutes

How to Open PDF with Password Using Google Drive

With Google Drive, you can easily access any PDF files for free, whether it's password encrypted or not. However, for the former, which is secured with a password, you must know and enter the correct characters used in locking it. This way you can remove the password permission easily.

The toolkit is available for several platforms such as iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. Although the features of this toolkit are great, you have to bear in mind that files opened via this option are less secured. Third parties who have access (or could hack it) to your Google Drive password can access the document.

Features:

• Insert blank PDF pages via Google Drive
• Rotate a PDF page in the desired degree

Guide to Open Password Protected PDF Document with Google Drive:

Step 1. Launch Google Drive on your PC, hit the options "My Drive" > "Upload Files", and a new tab where your PDF files are stored will appear on your screen. Choose your desired file and tick the "Open" icon.

Step 2. Now that the file has been successfully uploaded to your drive, right-click on it, then select the options "Open with" > "Google Doc". Next, a window would immediately pop up asking you to enter the correct password used for locking the file.

Step 3. Once you can access the PDF file, you won't be required to enter a password when you next want to open it. So the next thing to do is click on "File" and then tap on "Download" to export the file to your local drive.

🔧Difficulty Level: ⭐⭐

⏱️Estimated Time:  3-4 minutes

How to Open Locked PDF using Google Chrome

Lastly, we have Google Chrome as another toolkit that could be used to open password-protected PDF files. This web browser could also be used to remove passwords from PDF documents freely. One of the major challenges end-users of this technique face is a poor internet connection.

Features:

• Print PDF pages with custom settings
• Open password protected PDF in a few simple clicks

Stepwise Guide to Open Password Protected PDF with Google Chrome:

Step 1. From your internet-enabled PC, launch Chrome and open a blank page.

Step 2. After doing this, drag and drop the PDF file into this page. Should you have the file encrypted with a password, then a new window will pop up requesting the open password.

Step 3. Enter the password, and chrome will automatically open the file.

🔧Difficulty Level: ⭐

⏱️Estimated Time:  2-3 minutes

Once completed, you can use the button below to share this post on social media platforms to help others open a protected PDF.

Conclusion

Opening a password-protected PDF file is way easier than ever with the 4 techniques shared in this article. Just select any of the toolkits introduced, and then follow the stepwise guide underneath to accomplish the task.

Mind you, our top recommendation is EaseUS PDF Editor, the most sophisticated PDF editing software globally. It's designed with rich editing features such as the deletion of texts, addition of bates numbering, conversion PDFs, and many more. Also, the speed of operation can't be compared with that of any toolkit you find on the internet.

FAQs about Password Protected PDF

1. How to open a password-protected PDF without a password?

To unlock a password-protected PDF without a password, you can rely on a PDF password remover called EaseUS PDF Editor. Follow these steps: 

• Launch this program and click on Open to import your PDF file. 
• In the top left corner of the new window, select Remove password. 
• Confirm this action and then wait for its completion. 

2. How to extract text from a password-protected PDF?

• Remove all the restrictions on your PDF with EaseUS PDF Editor.
• Convert it to a Word document and then export it.

3. How do I unlock an editable PDF?

✨Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat. 

✨Choose Protect a PDF under All tools. 

✨In the left pane, select Remove Security.

• For the Document Open password, hit OK.
• For the permission password, enter it and then hit OK.