Does PDFWix send my password to a server?

No. The decryption runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly — your password and PDF stay on your iPad. Verify in Safari DevTools (no upload requests during the unlock).

What's the difference between an open password and an owner password?

An open (user) password is required to view the document. An owner password restricts what you can do with the document (print, copy, edit) without restricting opening it. Unlock PDF removes either type when you supply the matching password.

Home / How-to

How to Unlock a PDF on iPad

A simple step-by-step guide to unlock a pdf on iPad using PDFWix's free online tools.

How to Unlock a PDF on iPad

Unlock a PDF on iPad in Safari with PDFWix — remove a known password, files stay on your device. Free, no app install, no signup, no watermark, iPadOS 16+.

Tip: unlock to enable annotation

Apple's Markup tool and most iPad PDF apps refuse to annotate password-protected PDFs even after you've opened them with the password. Run PDFWix Unlock first in Safari to strip the encryption header (you still need the password) and the resulting unencrypted PDF can be marked up, signed, highlighted and shared from any iPad app afterwards. Re-encrypt with Protect PDF if the final annotated copy needs to be password-locked again.

How it works

Open PDFWix Unlock PDF — Open Safari on your iPad and go to pdfwix.com/unlock-pdf.
Add the protected PDF — Tap Select file and choose the password-protected PDF from Files or iCloud Drive.
Enter the current password — Type the password you'd normally use to open the document.
Decrypt — Tap Unlock PDF — decryption runs locally in your browser on your iPad.
Save the unprotected PDF — Tap Download, then 'Save to Files' — the unencrypted PDF lands in your Files app.

Frequently asked questions

Can PDFWix unlock a PDF if I don't know the password?

No — and this is the most important thing to understand about every legitimate 'unlock PDF' tool. PDFWix decrypts using the password you supply; it does not crack, brute-force, or recover unknown passwords. If you've lost a password you set yourself, the file may be unrecoverable — that's by design with strong PDF…

Is unlocking a PDF I own legal?

Yes. Removing a password from a PDF you own (or have explicit permission to modify) is legal in most jurisdictions. Removing protection from a file you don't own is generally illegal under computer-misuse laws and violates our terms of service.

Can I unlock a PDF on iPad without an app?

Yes — in Safari at pdfwix.com/unlock-pdf. No app install, no signup, no Apple ID required. The decryption runs entirely in your browser on iPadOS 16 and later.