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How do I save a password protected file without a password?

New Here ,
Jan 16, 2014 Jan 16, 2014

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Someone sent me a password protected file and I want to save it on my computer without the password.

Thanks,

Scott

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How to , Security digital signatures and esignatures , Windows

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correct answers 2 Correct answers

Adobe Employee , Jan 16, 2014 Jan 16, 2014

Hi Scott,

It is not possible to save a password protected file without a password with Adobe Reader, you would require Adobe Acrobat to remove the password protection. Even with Adobe Acrobat you can only remove the security if you are aware about the password otherwise you need to contact the Author/creator of the PDF to remove the security.

Regards,

~Pranav

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LEGEND , May 19, 2014 May 19, 2014

1. Buy Adobe Acrobat.

2. Open in Adobe Acrobat.

3. Use File > Properties

4. Go to Security tab

5. Set Security method to None

6. Give password when prompted

7. SAVE the file.

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Adobe Employee ,
Jan 16, 2014 Jan 16, 2014

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Hi Scott,

It is not possible to save a password protected file without a password with Adobe Reader, you would require Adobe Acrobat to remove the password protection. Even with Adobe Acrobat you can only remove the security if you are aware about the password otherwise you need to contact the Author/creator of the PDF to remove the security.

Regards,

~Pranav

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New Here ,
Jan 16, 2014 Jan 16, 2014

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Thanks!

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New Here ,
May 19, 2014 May 19, 2014

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I have the password to a PDF file, how do I remove the security setting so that I can save the document without a password??

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LEGEND ,
May 19, 2014 May 19, 2014

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1. Buy Adobe Acrobat.

2. Open in Adobe Acrobat.

3. Use File > Properties

4. Go to Security tab

5. Set Security method to None

6. Give password when prompted

7. SAVE the file.

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New Here ,
May 22, 2021 May 22, 2021

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Not sure if this is helpful.. I was needing to combine some statements into one PDF, but the password protection wasn't allowing me to do so. Using Acrobat Pro (on mac), File --> Export to --> Microsoft Word. Then I was able go back in to Adobe and combine the files. If you're not needing to combine files, and just want a savable document, using Adobe Reader, File --> Convert to Microsoft, and then you can convert to PDF - have not tried this accessing the document after converted again though. Worth a shot.

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Community Expert ,
May 22, 2021 May 22, 2021

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Reader on its own can't convert a PDF file to Word, and anyway it won't work if the file has a file-open password. Acrobat won't let you do that.

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New Here ,
May 22, 2021 May 22, 2021

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Yeah as I mentioned I use pro. But With reader I’m able to export to word,
so I dunno 🙂

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New Here ,
Nov 07, 2022 Nov 07, 2022

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This is no longer the case. You do not need Adobe Acrobat Pro to do this in Windows.

Windows enables you to print to PDF after you have opened the original file using the password, whereby the password security is overridden and removed in the 'printed' document 

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Community Beginner ,
May 03, 2024 May 03, 2024

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LATEST

This is one of the most unfortunat things with Adobe. Having to pay over 15 $ per month in order to use the smallest feature.

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New Here ,
May 11, 2017 May 11, 2017

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When needing an unprotected copy of a password protected PDF

Open the file – and on the left side open the Page Thumbnails – highlight all of them – Go to the top, right click the first one and select “Extract Pages” then ok (don’t check any boxes). Close out of there and hit save and it’ll ask where and then it’ll save them there for you……. all unlocked.

Hope this helped

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LEGEND ,
May 11, 2017 May 11, 2017

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NWWolverine  wrote

When needing an unprotected copy of a password protected PDF

Open the file – and on the left side open the Page Thumbnails – highlight all of them – Go to the top, right click the first one and select “Extract Pages” then ok (don’t check any boxes). Close out of there and hit save and it’ll ask where and then it’ll save them there for you……. all unlocked.

Hope this helped

Not if you don't have Adobe Acrobat and are only using the free Reader. And if you have Acrobat, there are easier ways.

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New Here ,
Feb 03, 2022 Feb 03, 2022

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This is the only suggeston that worked for me, given, knowing the password to open the doc than saving it with Microsoft print-to-pdf.  Thnak you, TY, TY...

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Community Beginner ,
Nov 28, 2017 Nov 28, 2017

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Open the document and the use the print to pdf function which will create a copy of your file without the password.

You obviously have to know the password in the first place.

It is frustrating as a lot of statements that come as protected pdfs need to be sent to institutions as proof and there is no way without buying a full copy or using password removal software.

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LEGEND ,
Nov 29, 2017 Nov 29, 2017

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Izakvdm  wrote

Open the document and the use the print to pdf function which will create a copy of your file without the password.

Also not possible without the full version of Acrobat...

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Community Expert ,
Nov 29, 2017 Nov 29, 2017

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Izakvdm  wrote

Open the document and the use the print to pdf function which will create a copy of your file without the password.

You obviously have to know the password in the first place.

...

Not possible with Acrobat Reader or Adobe Acrobat.

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LEGEND ,
Nov 29, 2017 Nov 29, 2017

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https://forums.adobe.com/people/Bernd+Alheit  wrote

Not possible with Acrobat Reader or Adobe Acrobat.

Technically, if you have the password you could do it with Acrobat but if you have the password, you wouldn't need to. You would just remove the password.

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Community Expert ,
Nov 29, 2017 Nov 29, 2017

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Acrobat doesn't allow printing to "Adobe PDF" with a protected document.

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LEGEND ,
Nov 29, 2017 Nov 29, 2017

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That's why I mentioned needing the password.

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Community Beginner ,
Nov 29, 2017 Nov 29, 2017

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errrmmmm Yes it does.

Untitled-2.jpg

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Community Expert ,
Nov 29, 2017 Nov 29, 2017

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I can't see the printer "Adobe PDF" in your screenshot.

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Community Beginner ,
Nov 29, 2017 Nov 29, 2017

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Which version of Windows are you running?

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LEGEND ,
Nov 30, 2017 Nov 30, 2017

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print.jpg

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New Here ,
May 02, 2024 May 02, 2024

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This worked for me in 2024...if anyone is still looking. I do have Adobe Acrobat. Super fast and easy. As mentioned, you need the password to start, but then you can save it without in your files and access the document freely anytime. Great if you're sharing with colleagues or, in my case, uploading to a client database. 

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LEGEND ,
Nov 30, 2017 Nov 30, 2017

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Hardly relevant, we are talking about what we see in YOUR screen shot. Not the Adobe PDF printer. 

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