Native Mac App
Forgot the password to a locked PDF? PDF Unlocker finds it fast — no cloud, no subscription, no nonsense. Just drag, drop, and unlock.
Uses optimized brute-force and dictionary attacks to crack PDF passwords in seconds or minutes, not hours.
Your files never leave your Mac. Everything runs locally — no uploads, no accounts, no data collection.
Drop a PDF onto the app window. That's it. PDF Unlocker handles the rest and shows you the password when found.
Have multiple locked PDFs? Process them all at once. PDF Unlocker queues them up and works through each one.
Remember part of the password? Enter a hint to massively narrow the search and get results faster.
Built with SwiftUI. Feels right at home on macOS — supports Dark Mode, Retina displays, and Apple Silicon.
Drag your locked PDF file into the app window, or use the file picker to browse to it.
Select a recovery method — common passwords, dictionary attack, or custom character set — and optionally add a password hint.
PDF Unlocker searches and displays your password the moment it's found. Copy it with one click and open your file.
Yes — PDF Unlocker is intended for recovering passwords to your own files. Always ensure you have the right to access any PDF you unlock.
PDF Unlocker focuses on recovering the open password (the one required to view the file). Owner restriction passwords may also be removed depending on the encryption level.
It depends on password length and complexity. Simple passwords are found in seconds; complex ones may take longer. Using a password hint dramatically speeds things up.
Absolutely. PDF Unlocker is 100% offline. Your PDF never leaves your Mac — there are no servers, no analytics, no cloud uploads of any kind.
PDF Unlocker requires macOS 13 Ventura or later. It runs natively on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
Download PDF Unlocker for free and recover your password in minutes.
Download for Mac — Free