How to Remove Password from PDF on Mac? Quick & Easy Ways
Summary: No matter if the PDF file has owner-level or user-level password, in this article, we will share the best methods to remove password from PDF on Mac. So, if you’re wondering how to delete password from PDF, then this article will help you out.
Many organizations use PDF documents encrypted with a password for sending so that only the authorized user can read and have the access permissions. If you want to access the contents of the file, you will need the password to open the document on your Mac machine.
But if you don’t remember one then it would be tragic situation because it keeps asking for the password. In fact, even if you know the password, it becomes annoying to enter password every single time you want to open the PDF document. It is not only annoying, but also cumbersome, depending on the length of the password used, and thus adds to the frustration. Fortunately, there are mechanisms available to remove PDF password on Mac. You can remove the protection, complete your work over a course of period and again put the password back, if required.
Methods you will find here:
How to Remove Password from PDF on Mac using Preview
I – Export Method in Preview App
Step 1: Open the PDF File in Preview App on Mac
To decrypt a document or to remove the security password from PDF file. Firstly, you must first open the document with the Mac Preview App and then unlock it with the appropriate password.
Step 2: Select the Export option.
The next step is to go to the File menu and select the Export option.
Step 3: Save the PDF
Now, give a name to the PDF if you want to create a new PDF file. Keep the name and location intact if you want to reflect the changes on the current PDF file. Click on the Permissions button and remove any password here. Then, click Apply and save the PDF file.
Step 4: Remove PDF Password in Other Mac Versions
In some versions of Mac, users comes across the Encrypt option instead of Permissions. In such cases, simply deselect the Encrypt option, then save the PDF file to remove password from PDF on Mac.
II – Print Method in Preview App
If the above method does not work, printing is always worth an alternative attempt.
Step 1: Open the PDF Document in Preview on Mac
Firstly, open the PDF file on Mac using the Preview app. Then, enter the password required to open the file.
Step 2: Open the Print window.
Select the menu item “Print…” or use the print shortcut (CMD + P).
Step 3: Save as PDF.
In the Print dialog, you will find a drop-down menu in the lower-left corner, select “Save as PDF…”.
Step 4: Remove PDF Password Mac
Make sure that the password fields are empty in the Security settings. Finally, click OK to remove password protection from PDF on Mac and save the document in a location of your choice.
Do remember that if your PDF file is having a print restriction, then this method is completely useless.
How to Remove Password from PDF on Mac with Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat Pro is a paid application that can be used to remove protection from PDF Mac. This is another program by Adobe that helps to perform multiple tasks. Acrobat Pro offers a free trial of Acrobat Pro for a week.
Now, to remove the security password from PDF on Mac, follow these steps in Adobe Acrobat:
- Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro and specify the password to view it. Click the lock icon in the left side of the window and click on “Permissions” to remove password from PDF Mac. You can also go to File > Properties and click on the “Security” tab.
- Click on the “Security Method” box, select “No security“, and click “OK” to remove the password.
- Now, mouse-click the File > Save to save your changes. You can also close the Adobe Acrobat Pro DC window and then you can save your changes. Once you have the password, it will be removed from the original PDF file.
Extended – Another method in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Step 1: Firstly, open the PDF document in Adobe Acrobat and enter the password to access this file.
Step 2: Now, go to Tools. Here, click on the Protect tool.
Step 3: Here, select Remove security option and enter the password to remove encryption from PDF on Mac.
PDF Password Remover to Remove Password Protection from PDF on Mac
PDF Unlocker Software Mac is the best utility to remove the owner as well as a known user password from the PDF. The software is capable to remove permission from PDF documents in batch. It does not require Adobe Acrobat installation to removing any kind of password from a PDF file.
Not only this the software allows you to copy text from secured PDF documents but it also generates the report containing all details. It also previews the status of the PDF document i.e. (Pending or Completed) during the unlocking process.
Steps to Remove Password from PDF Mac:
Download the software, follow these simple steps and learn how to delete password from PDF on Mac OS X:
1. Open the software and click on the Add Files or Add Folder for adding required PDF files
2. Here, enter the password corresponding to the PDF file and click on the Next button.
3. In the next screen, click on Unlock option to initiate the remove password from PDF file process on Mac.
4. The status will get completed and you can successfully view the report by clicking on View Report. Find the password-free PDF file at the destination location.
Video:
Owner Password & User Password: What They Are and How to Remove Them from PDF
When operating on the PDFs, do not get confused by owner password an user password. First, understand about the owner password and user password.
Owner Password: The Owner Password, also known as the “Permissions Password” or “Master Password,” is used to control what actions can be performed on a PDF document. Users can open and read the PDF documents but may be unable to perform any actions on it like edit, print, copy text and images, and more. The Owner Password gives a user full control over the PDF document.
User Password: The User Password, also referred to as the “Open Password” or “Document Open Password,” is used to restrict access to the PDF. Users cannot open the PDF without the correct password.
Do note that a PDF may have both owner level and user level password on it. So, read the following section and execute the method depending on what type of password you want to remove.
Now, let’s discuss how to remove owner password from PDF file:
- Use Mac PDF Password Remover recommended above to remove owner password without actually needing the password.
- Another option is to set Security Properties to No security in Adobe Acrobat Pro to get rid of password in PDF on Mac.
Now, let’s discuss how to remove user password from PDF file:
- If the user password is known, then you can use all the above given methods to remove it.
- If the user password is forgotten, then you can only try third-party password removers. Do note that even they are not guaranteed to work due to the sheer amount of password combinations a tool has to try to guess the password.
Conclusion
This blog provides various methods to remove password from PDF on Mac. Depending on what kind of password you wish to remove, the solution may differ. The blog emphasizes all possible methods that you can use to delete password from PDF file on the Mac Operating system. So, choose the best solution wisely.
Q – Will I lose any data from my PDF after removing the password?
No, removing the password from a PDF should not result in any data loss. The content of the document remains unchanged; only the password protection is removed.
Q – Can I remove a PDF password without knowing the password?
Generally, you need to know the password to remove it. However, using professional tool allows you to bypass this requirement.
Q – Is it possible to remove a password from a PDF using Preview on Mac?
Yes, if you know the password, you can open the PDF in Preview. Then, provide the password, and save a copy of the document without password protection.
Q – Can I remove passwords from multiple PDF files at once on a Mac?
Yes, some software solutions offer batch processing, allowing you to remove passwords from multiple PDF files simultaneously.
Q – If I remove a password from a PDF, can I re-apply it later?
Yes, you can re-apply a password to a PDF using a PDF editing tool like Adobe Acrobat or similar software.