How to Remove a Password from a PDF on iPhone (Unlock PDF)
Updated
Quick answer
Open the locked PDF in PDF Slayer, enter its current password, choose Unlock, and save an unprotected copy. You must know the existing password — the whole process runs on your iPhone, so the file is never uploaded.
Bank statements, payslips, insurance documents — companies love sending PDFs locked with passwords like your date of birth plus your postcode. Sensible for email, maddening when the files live in your own secure storage and you have to retype the password every single time.
If you know the password, you can save an unlocked copy for your own records. Doing it on-device matters double here: uploading a statement to an online "PDF unlocker" hands your financial documents to a stranger’s server.
Unlock a PDF with PDF Slayer
Open the locked PDF
Launch PDF Slayer and open the protected file.
Enter the current password
Type the password the sender gave you — unlocking requires it.
Choose Unlock
Remove the protection from the document.
Save the unprotected copy
Save the unlocked PDF to your own storage. Everything happened on your device.
Free on the App Store. Works 100% offline — your documents never leave your iPhone.
Get PDF Slayer FreeYou need the password — and that’s by design
PDF Slayer removes protection only from files you can already open. It does not crack or bypass encryption — if a tool claims to open encrypted PDFs without the password, be skeptical of both the claim and the tool.
This covers the real-world use case: documents that are legitimately yours, protected with a password you were given, that you want to store in a form that is convenient for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I unlock a PDF without knowing the password?
No. PDF Slayer requires the current password — it removes protection, it does not break encryption.
Is it safe to unlock bank statements this way?
Yes — safer than any online unlocker, because the file never leaves your iPhone. Just store the unlocked copy somewhere secure.
Does the original locked file get changed?
You save an unlocked copy; keep or delete the original as you prefer.
Can I re-protect the file with my own password?
Yes. Use Password Protect to encrypt it again with a password you choose.