PDFs are the second most widely used document format after Word. Since many companies share confidential files like bank statements, utility bills, and collective agreements, they tend to use PDF format more often, providing security and restriction. A password-protected PDF document would avert anyone from viewing, editing, or printing the document except those who know the password. You'll be asked to enter the password whenever you open a particular file.
Password-protected PDF files seem like a good plan, but if you receive too many files daily with a secure password, remembering every password may become a significant problem. Yes, you can remove security from each PDF you receive in a few clicks. In this article, we'll guide you on how to remove password from PDF on Mac.
Types of Passwords for PDF Files
Generally, the PDF file format follows two kinds of password protections, i.e, a user password (or open password) and a master password (or owner password). Remember, you can only limit the access by applying certain restrictions on a PDF file, such as printing and editing. But you can't stop anyone from saving copies of a PDF. So, what exactly are these used for?
User Password: A user password, often known as an open password, needs a user to type the password to open the PDF.
Master Password: A master password, often known as a permission password, needs a password to change the authorization settings. This means that by using this password, you can set the restrictions on printing, editing, and copying the PDF content.
Also Read: How to Remove Encryption from PDFs in Just a Few Simple Steps
How to Remove Password from PDF on Mac with aJoysoft
Mac devices usually don't have the luxury of applications compared to Windows. But that doesn't mean you can't remove password from PDF on Mac. There are always some applications available to do the job for you. There are other options, such as online tools and Mac Preview. We'll discuss them later. First, let's start with aJoysoft PDF Password Remover. It supports both Windows and Mac. If you need the Mac version, you can download the Mac version from App Store.
aJoysoft is a specially designed application that allows you to decrypt or remove user password or owner password protections on printing, copying, and editing PDF files. Using this application, you can also remove the passwords of 200 PDF files in a single go. It works well on batch processing.
Follow the below steps to remove passwords from PDFs:
Step 1: Upload PDF Files
To unlock PDF on Mac, you should open your password-protected PDFs on the aJoysoft interface. Simply click on the "Add Files" button to upload PDF files, or you can drag the file and drop it on the interface.
Step 2: Remove Password from PDF on Mac
Here's the tricky part. In this step, you may face different scenarios. One if your PDF file is not locked with an open or user Password, and the second if your PDF document is protected with an open or user Password.
If you don't see the lock icon against the document, it means it doesn't have an open password. Simply clicking on the "Remove Password" will immediately revoke all the restrictions on the PDF. After that, you'll be allowed to edit, print, edit, and copy the content of the documents.
If the lock icon is visible against the PDF file, and you need to click on it.
After clicking on the lock icon, you'll be asked to enter the password. Simply enter the password and click "OK" to dismantle all the restrictions as in the previous scenario.
The Best PDF Editor for Mac (Edit PDF after Removing Password)
You've removed the password from the PDF, but still, you'll need an editor or reader to view and edit PDF documents. Remember PDF files can only be viewed and edited by using the software.
UPDF - PDF editor for Mac would be an excellent choice for editing, annotating and viewing purpose. It's lightweight and straightforward to use.
Features of UPDF
- Edit Text and Images: It provides hassle-free editing so you can quickly edit your PDF files. You are able to edit all the texts, images and links on your PDF documents.
- Add Comments and Annotations: UPDF also supports annotation, so you can use markup tools to add comments, stamps, signatures, boxes, shapes, and more.
- Page Management: Its page management feature lets you quickly manage and organize the PDF pages. You can add, delete, rotate PDF pages, replace pages, rearrange pages, extract images from PDF and much more.
- OCR Feature: UPDF can help users convert scanned PDF files into editable and searchable documents.
How to Unlock PDF PDF on Mac with Preview
Another option we talked about earlier is that you can remove the password from PDF in Mac Preview. Mac Preview is a built-in app that lets you read or edit PDF documents on Mac devices. To do that, follow the below instruction carefully:
Step 1: Open Password-Protected PDF
First of all, open the PDF in Preview. Search for your PDF file, right-click on it, and hit "Open With", followed by "Preview". Or you can also double-click the file to open in Preview (This way only works when you set Preview as your default PDF viewer). Both ways will lead your document to Preview.
Step 2: Unlock PDF on Mac
If your PDF hasn't embedded any password, it'll straight launch your document. If it has, Preview will ask you to type the password before viewing your PDF content. Type the correct password in the text box and hit "Enter." If your typed password is valid, it'll show the contents in Preview. Otherwise, it'll ask again.
Step 3: Save File
Once you have opened the password-protected file, simply press "Command" + "S" to save your document. You can also use the alternative to save the file, click on the "File" menu and select "Save." Now, choose the location where you want to keep your document, and don't forget to rename the file, so you don't get confused with the protected file.
Your saved PDF document is ready to be sent to anyone without any restrictions.
How to Remove Password from PDF on Mac with Online Tool
Well, there are many online tools available that let you remove password from PDF Mac. The benefit of online tools is that they can be accessed from any platform, either Mac or Windows, and even from smartphones.
Since many online tools work for you, we'll guide you on how to remove PDF passwords with iLovePDF. iLovePDF is a great tool when it comes to decrypting PDF passwords. iLovePDF is not limited to interpreting PDF things but also supports various features like converting, compressing, splitting, and merging PDFs.
So, here's how to do it:
Step 1 - Upload File: Since iLovePDF is an online tool, you must go to its website and upload your password-protected document. On the website's interface, you'll see a button "Select PDF files" click on it and choose your file from your device.
Step 2 - Remove Password: After uploading the document, simply click on the "Unlock PDF" to remove the protection from the PDF.
Conclusion
Let's get straight to the point. There's no question that you need two separate tools while working with PDF, especially in the Mac environment, i.e, remove password from PDF on Mac and a PDF editor. You've already learned how to unlock PDF on Mac in different ways. The question is which way you're going to choose. If you want extra features, you should probably go with aJoysoft and UPDF editor. Both these would make an excellent tagged team while working with PDF files.
