Unlock PDF
Remove password protection from a PDF when you have the correct password. Unlock documents for editing, printing, or unrestricted access. SnapOtter processes files locally so your password and document stay private.
Features
- Remove open password protection with the correct password
- Remove permission restrictions like print and copy locks
- Supports all PDF encryption standards including AES-256
- Preserves all document content and formatting after unlocking
- Self-hosted processing keeps your password and files private
What you can do
- Unlocking a password-protected report to enable text copying and annotation
- Removing print restrictions from a PDF you received from a vendor
- Unlocking an old archived PDF whose password is known but inconvenient
- Removing protection from a document to merge it with other PDFs
Self-hosted. Your files never leave your network.
SnapOtter runs entirely on your own infrastructure. Files processed with Unlock PDF are never uploaded to third-party servers. Deploy a single Docker container and process files with full privacy, no watermarks, and no usage limits. Open source under AGPL-3.0.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to know the password to unlock a PDF?
- Yes. SnapOtter requires the correct password to remove protection. It does not crack or bypass unknown passwords. All processing runs locally on your server so your password stays private.
- Will unlocking change the document content?
- No. Unlocking only removes the encryption and permission restrictions. All text, images, and formatting remain identical. Your files are processed entirely on your own network.
- Can I remove only print restrictions?
- Yes. You can remove permission-level restrictions like print, copy, and edit locks without removing the open password if desired. Processing happens on your self-hosted instance.
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