How to Remove a Password from a PDF on Mac

What kind of password does your PDF have?

A PDF can have two kinds of password. An open password stops anyone from viewing the file. An owner password controls what people can do once it's open, like printing or copying text.

According to Apple's Preview User Guide, Preview sets both. The Require Password To Open Document option adds the open password. The Owner Password section, with its checkboxes for actions like printing, sets the permissions.

Most locked statements and payslips use an open password. That's the one people want gone, so it's the focus here.

How do I remove a password from a PDF on Mac with Preview?

To remove a password from a PDF on Mac, open it with the password, then export a copy with no open password. The copy is unlocked and your original stays as it was.

1. Double-click the PDF to open it in Preview.
2. Type the current password when Preview asks for it.
3. Choose File → Export.
4. Type a new name, like "statement-unlocked", so you keep both files.
5. Click Permissions and make sure Require Password To Open Document is not selected.
6. Click Save.

Now open the new copy. It should open straight away with no password box. That's your small win.

A quick honesty check

Apple's guide explains the Export and Permissions settings for adding and changing passwords. It doesn't have a separate page called "remove a password". That's why the test in the last step matters. Open the copy and confirm it's unlocked before you delete anything.

Changing the password instead

If you just want a different password, Apple's guide says to open the PDF and choose File → Edit Permissions. There you can set or change the open password and the owner password, then click Apply.

Is there another built-in way to unlock a PDF on Mac?

Yes. You can open the PDF with its password, then use Print and save a fresh PDF. This works from any app that can print, not just Preview.

1. Open the PDF and enter the password.
2. Choose File → Print.
3. Click the PDF button, or open its menu and choose Save as PDF.
4. Name the file and click Save. Don't click Security Options, since that's where passwords get added.

Apple's Save as PDF guide describes the PDF button and the Security Options for passwords. One catch: if the owner password blocks printing, this route may not be available. In that case, use the Export method above.

What if you don't know the password?

If you don't know the password, ask the person or company that sent the PDF. They can share the password or send an unprotected copy.

Check the email or letter that came with the file first, since some senders explain the password format there. This guide doesn't cover getting around a password you don't have. A locked PDF that isn't yours belongs to someone else, and the password is their choice to share.

Where does Preview get slow?

Preview is perfect for one file. It gets slow when you have a year of statements or a folder of payslips.

• One file at a time. Twelve statements means opening, typing the password, and exporting twelve times.
• Easy to miss a step. The setting lives behind the Permissions button in the Export window, and it's easy to forget where it is between months.
• Naming. Each copy needs its own name so you don't mix up locked and unlocked files.

How do I unlock PDFs faster with FinderBuddy?

FinderBuddy adds Unlock PDF to Finder's right-click menu. It removes passwords from PDFs you own, and you'll need the current password to unlock each file.

1. Select the locked PDF, or several, in Finder.
2. Right-click and choose FinderBuddy → Unlock PDF.
3. Enter the current password.
4. The unlocked copy is saved next to the original, which is never changed.

Want to edit the file without unlocking it first? Password-protected PDFs now open in PDF Studio, where you can sign, fill in forms and reorder pages.

Files are processed on your Mac and nothing is uploaded. The free download includes a limited set of tools, and Unlock PDF unlocks with a one-time license. It needs macOS 14 or later on an Apple silicon Mac. The setup guide walks you through the first run.

What this means for you

An unlocked PDF is easier to use, but it's also easier for anyone to read. So treat the copy with a little care.

• Keep unlocked copies in a private folder, not on a shared drive.
• Upload the unlocked copy to the form or portal that needs it, then you can delete it if you like.
• Before you email it to someone, think about adding a new password. The guide to password protecting a PDF on Mac shows how.
• Need to send only a few pages? Unlock first, then split the PDF on Mac so you share just what's needed.

My honest take

I like Preview's Export method because it never touches the original. If something goes wrong, the locked file is still there.

I'd skip "unlock PDF" websites for statements and tax papers. You'd be uploading the file and its password to a server you know nothing about. That's a big trade for a small saving in time, especially when your Mac can do it offline.

The takeaway

Removing a password from a PDF on Mac comes down to two moves: open the file with the password you know, then save a copy without protection. Preview does it for free. FinderBuddy does it from the right-click menu when you have many files.

Once you do it once, it becomes second nature. Your future self, typing fewer passwords, will thank you.