Unlock a PDF: remove a password you know
Bank statements, salary slips and the e-Aadhaar PDF arrive locked with a password. If you know it, PDF Maker can save a copy that opens without it, which forms and printers accept more easily.
The tool above works in your browser: your files stay on your device and are not uploaded. The steps below are for PDF Maker, our Android app, which does the same on your phone, works offline and has more options.
You need the password. PDF Maker does not guess, crack or bypass passwords. It only removes a password that you type in correctly, for files you own or are allowed to open.
The steps in PDF Maker
- Open PDF Maker and tap Unlock PDF.
- Choose the PDF that asks for a password. If it does not ask for one, the app tells you so.
- Type the password in the Password box. Tap Show the password to check what you typed.
- Tap Remove the password.
- Save or share the new copy. It opens without a password. Your original file is not changed.
If the password is wrong, the app says "That password is not right" and nothing is counted. Keep the unlocked copy safe: anyone who has it can read it.
The e-Aadhaar password
The e-Aadhaar PDF you download from UIDAI is locked. According to UIDAI's Aadhaar online services page, the password is the first 4 letters of your name in capital letters, as written on your Aadhaar, followed by your year of birth (YYYY). UIDAI gives these examples:
| Name on Aadhaar | Year of birth | Password |
|---|---|---|
| SURESH KUMAR | 1990 | SURE1990 |
| SAI KUMAR | 1990 | SAIK1990 |
| P. KUMAR | 1990 | P.KU1990 |
| RIA | 1990 | RIA1990 |
Note the details in these examples: a space is skipped (SAIK), a dot counts as a character (P.KU), and a name shorter than 4 letters is used as it is (RIA). Enter that password in Unlock PDF to save an e-Aadhaar copy without the password. You can download e-Aadhaar from UIDAI's official download page.
Other locked PDFs
Banks, card issuers and employers choose their own password rules, often built from your date of birth, customer ID or part of your name. The rule is usually written in the email or message that brought the file. If you cannot find it, ask the sender: there is no honest way round a password you do not know.
After unlocking
An unlocked PDF can be handled by the other tools: reduce it to a KB size for an upload, merge it with other documents, or sign it. A locked PDF has to be unlocked first; the other tools cannot open it without the password.
Free plan and Pro
Removing a password uses one of the 5 free size-target exports of the day, and only when it works; a wrong password costs nothing. Pro has no daily limit. PDF Maker cannot add a password to a PDF.
Questions
Can PDF Maker open a PDF if I forgot the password?
No. It only removes a password you type in correctly. Ask the sender for the password or for a new copy.
What is the password of the e-Aadhaar PDF?
The first 4 letters of your name in capitals followed by your year of birth, for example SURE1990 for SURESH KUMAR born in 1990, as UIDAI explains.
Is my PDF or password sent anywhere?
No. The file is unlocked on your phone, and the password is not stored or sent.
Does unlocking change my original file?
No. The app saves a new copy without the password and leaves the original as it was.