Unlock Password-Protected PDF Files via API
Remove password protection from encrypted PDF documents via REST API. Upload your protected PDF and the password as multipart/form-data and receive an unlocked, accessible PDF in response.
# Unlock a password-protected PDF
curl -X POST \
https://api.convertfilefast.com/v2/pdf/unlock \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-F "file=@protected.pdf" \
-F "password=MySecretPassword123" \
--output unlocked.pdf
# HTTP 200 OK — Content-Type: application/pdfAdvantages
Why use our API?
Complete and reliable solution for integration in any tech stack.
Instant Unlocking
Remove PDF password restrictions in seconds. Receive a fully accessible PDF that can be read, printed, and edited.
Simple API Call
Send the file and password as multipart form fields. Get the unlocked PDF binary back in the response. No setup required.
Automation Pipelines
Unlock PDFs automatically in document processing workflows. Ideal for batch processing of protected archives.
n8n Integration
Unlock PDFs as part of n8n workflows triggered by email attachments, Google Drive files, or webhooks.
Batch Unlocking
Process multiple password-protected PDFs in a loop. Unlock an entire archive of documents programmatically.
Zero Storage
All PDFs are processed in memory and deleted immediately after unlocking. Your documents are never stored on our servers.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to provide the password to unlock a PDF?
Yes, the API requires the correct owner or user password to unlock a password-protected PDF. Send the password as the `password` field in the multipart/form-data request. If the PDF is not password-protected, you can omit the field and the API will return it unchanged.
Which PDF formats and versions are supported?
The API supports standard PDF files from version 1.0 through PDF 2.0, including AES-128 and AES-256 encrypted documents. Scanned PDFs and PDFs with digital signatures are also supported — only the open password is removed while document content is preserved.
How do I send the password in the API request?
Include the password as a multipart form field named `password` alongside the `file` field. Example with cURL: curl -X POST https://api.convertfilefast.com/v2/pdf/unlock -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' -F 'file=@protected.pdf' -F 'password=MySecretPassword123' --output unlocked.pdf
Is the original PDF deleted after unlocking?
Yes. All uploaded files are processed in memory and permanently deleted from our servers immediately after the API response is returned. We do not store, log, or cache any PDF content. Your documents are never retained.
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