Forgot PDF Password on Android? Here Are 10 Easy Fixes!

Forgetting the password to your PDF file can be frustrating when you’re in need of important information.

On this page, you’ll find several ways to recover forgotten PDF passwords on Android, whether they are open passwords or permission passwords.

Use an Online PDF Password Remover

One of the easiest ways to unlock PDF without a password is to use an online PDF password remover. iLovePDF, is by far the most powerful online PDF password remover that is effective with PDF protected with low-level passwords.

Step 1. Visit iLovePDF PDF unlock website on your Android browser.

Step 2. Click Select PDF files to upload your locked PDF file.

Step 3. Then click Unlock PDF and download the unprotected version.

Recover Forgotten Passwords on PDF

LostMyPass offers an online service for recovering PDF passwords. When you forget a PDF Password on Android, just simply upload a password-protected PDF file, and the tool will automatically try to decrypt and recover the password.

Step 1. Go to LostMyPass.com on your device.

Step 2. Drop file to upload or tap click here to send the PDF that you have forgotten the password.

Step 3. This tool will automatically try to crack and display your PDF password.

Contact the Creator

Sometimes the easiest solution is to contact the person who created the PDF or sent it to you. They may have the password and can share it with you directly. You can reach out via email or phone, and request the password.

Check Your Email

If someone else sent you the PDF, they may have shared the password in an email. You can check the original email chain or any related communications to see if they contain the password.

Step 1. Open your email app.

Step 2. Search for the email containing the PDF.

Step 3. Check for the password in the email or attachment details.

Try Different Combinations

If you frequently reuse passwords, try entering a different combination that you may have used when protecting the PDF. This is a low-effort but sometimes effective solution.

Step 1. Open the PDF on Android.

Step 2. Try different commonly used passwords and see if they work to unlock the file.

Google Drive Trick

If you have previously opened the PDF on your Android device, the password might have been cached, or the file might have been uploaded to your Google Drive.

Step 1. Open Google Drive.

Step 2. Find the PDF file and try to open it.

Step 3. If it doesn’t ask for a password, you can then print it to a new PDF, which should not have the password.

Step 4. Print a copy of unencrypted copy of the PDF.

Use a Password Manager

If you’ve saved the password in a password manager, you can retrieve it from there. For example, Google Password Manager is a popular tool to save passwords. It is built into Chrome and every Android app.

Step 1. Open Chrome on your Android phone.

Step 2. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner > Select Settings.

Step 3. Scroll down and tap Passwords.

Step 4. Find the PDF-related password > Tap the eye icon to reveal the password if you saved it before.

Step 5. Then you can copy the password and use it to unlock the PDF file.

Rename the PDF File

Although password protection is for the file itself and has nothing to do with the file name. You can still try to remove password protection by simply renaming the PDF file. It doesn’t work in all cases, but you can give it a try.

Step 1. On your computer, find the locked PDF file.

Step 2. Right-click on the file > Click the Rename button > Give it a new name.

Step 3. Press Enter > Check if you can open this newly named file.

Save the PDF as a New File

If your PDF file has a permission password that prevents you from editing it, try opening the file in Microsoft Word or a similar application instead of a traditional PDF reader.

Step 1. Launch Microsoft Word and select the PDF to open it.

Step 2. It automatically converts PDF to Word document. If the file has restricted editing permissions, Word will open in read-only mode.

Step 3. Then click File > Tap Save As > Give the file a new name and save it in PDF format. Then you can check if the new file does not require the permission password.

Use a Desktop Password Remover

If the above methods don’t work, you might have better luck with desktop software. There are more powerful tools available for Windows, macOS, and Linux that can attempt to remove passwords from PDFs. Examples include: PDFCrack, PDF Unlocker, and so on.

Step 1. Transfer the PDF from your Android device to your desktop.

Step 2. We take using PDF Unlocker as an example, install and open PDF Unlocker.

Step 3. Click Add File(s) to upload the locked PDF to this tool.

Step 4. Set a destination path to save the file > Uncheck Keep Source PDF Password in Output PDF.

Step 5. After that, hit Unlock to start the process.

Important Considerations

When you forget the PDF password on Android and are ready to unlock the PDF, you need to pay attention to the following tips.

• Legal and Ethical: Make sure you have the legal right to access the contents of the PDF. Trying to crack or circumvent a password for a PDF you don’t have access to can be illegal and unethical.
• Security: Be careful when using online services or downloading apps, as some are not secure and can lead to data theft or malware.
• Efficiency: Some passwords, especially long and complex ones, may not be easily removed with simple tools, especially on Android devices, which don’t have the same processing power as desktop computers.

When trying to unlock a PDF, always remember to respect privacy and copyright laws. Attempting to access confidential or proprietary information without permission is not only unethical, it can also lead to serious legal consequences.