Decrypt PDF Online
Decrypt PDF online with ContinuePDF — no installer, no plug-in, no desktop software to keep updated. The whole tool loads as a web page, so you can decrypt your protected PDF straight from any computer or phone that has a browser. Because the work runs on your own machine instead of a remote server, you get desktop-class speed without the desktop-class download.
Start Decrypt PDF NowHow to Decrypt PDF Online
-
1
Open the tool in your browser
Go to continuepdf.com and open Decrypt PDF. There is nothing to install — the page is the app.
-
2
Add your protected PDF
Drag files onto the page or click to browse. Everything loads into the browser tab, not a server.
-
3
Decrypt PDF and download
Run the tool and save unlocked PDF to your device. The result is generated locally and downloaded instantly.
What you can do with Decrypt PDF
Decrypting removes a password you already know from a PDF, so the file opens freely afterwards — useful once a document no longer needs to be locked.
Stop retyping a password
Remove protection from a statement you open often so you are not entering the password every time.
Prepare a file for tools
Unlock a PDF so it can be merged, edited, or printed by software that will not touch protected files.
Clean up archives
Strip passwords from old documents you no longer need to keep locked.
Share an internal copy
Remove the password before storing a file in a trusted internal system.
Why an online Decrypt PDF tool beats desktop software
Traditional PDF programs like Acrobat or dedicated decrypt utilities have to be downloaded, installed, licensed, and updated — and they only work on the one machine you installed them on. An online tool skips all of that: open a URL and you are working. That matters most on borrowed, locked-down, or brand-new computers where you can't install anything.
The usual trade-off with "online" tools is privacy, because most of them upload your document to a server to process it. ContinuePDF is different — the decrypt operation happens inside your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly, so your protected PDF never leaves your device even though the tool lives on the web. You get the convenience of online with the privacy of offline.
Why choose ContinuePDF
Nothing to install
Works the moment the page loads — no setup, no admin rights.
Any device
Decrypt PDF from a laptop, desktop, tablet, or phone with the same link.
Always up to date
You always run the latest version — there is no old build to patch.
Processed locally
Online convenience, but files stay in your browser, not on a server.
Pro tip
You need the current password to remove it — this unlocks files you are authorised to open, it does not crack unknown passwords. Once unlocked, treat the file as sensitive again if it holds private data, since anyone can now open it.
Frequently asked questions
Can this open a PDF if I do not know the password?
No. Decrypting requires the correct password; it removes protection you already have access to rather than bypassing security on a file you cannot open.
Is the file completely unprotected afterwards?
Yes. Once the password is removed, the downloaded PDF opens without any prompt, so store or re-encrypt it accordingly if it is confidential.
Do I need to install anything to decrypt a PDF online?
No. Decrypt PDF runs entirely as a web page. You open the link, add your protected PDF, and download unlocked PDF — there is no program to download, no extension to add, and no account to create.
Does an online tool mean my file is uploaded somewhere?
Not with ContinuePDF. Although the tool is delivered over the web, the actual processing runs inside your browser on your own device. Your document is never transmitted to or stored on our servers.
Is ContinuePDF free to use?
Yes. ContinuePDF and all of its tools, including Decrypt PDF, are free with no signup required. Because documents are processed in your browser rather than on our servers, we can offer the full feature set at no cost.
Other ways to Decrypt PDF
Prefer a different device, browser, or setup? Decrypt PDF works the same everywhere.
Ready to Decrypt PDF?
Start using our free decrypt tool now — no signup required.
Open Decrypt PDF Tool