How to Decrypt Encrypted PDF files? Topmost Solutions

Rollins Duke
Published: August 8th, 2024 • 8 Min Read

Are you looking for a way to know how to decrypt encrypted PDF files? If yes, then you are reading out the right blog content. This blog will show you the best possible way to overcome your problem. You may seek a solution for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. We will delve deep into each of these and provide you with the best way. So, stay tuned with us in the blog till the end to decode PDF files fluidly.

Encryption Types & Ways to Decode PDF File with Encryption

Password Protection: In this type of protection user needs to manually enter the password to open the PDF documents. It prevents PDF files from unauthorized access to see the PDF document. This type of encryption can be removed completely using Adobe Acrobat or with third-party utilities.

Permission-Based Encryption: Permission-based encryption refers to the type of PDF encryption that prevents users from copying, printing, or modifying the document. Such type of encryption can easily decrypt PDF files using Google Chrome, Adobe Acrobat, or with a specialized application.

Adobe Standard Encryption: This is an internal encryption algorithm used by Adobe Acrobat to provide a moderate to higher level of encryption. Till Adobe Acrobat version 9 128-bit RC4 encryption is used. Thereafter from Adobe version X, they are using 256-bit AES encryption algorithms. However, this encryption side-by-side works with the user and owner password and can be decrypted using the above-mentioned ways.

PKI Encryption: Public Key Infrastructure or Certificate Encryption is a type of PDF encryption that works on public and private key pairs. Both the sender and receivers should have the digital certificate from an authorized certificate authority. Otherwise, the receiver cannot view the PDF document. This type of encryption cannot be changed from encrypted PDF to unencrypted without the necessary certificate.

Now let’s look forward to the detailed comprehensive guide to uncover how to decrypt encrypted PDF files for various OS-based machines.

#1 How to Unencrypt PDF on Mac Device with Preview?

Initially, locate the PDF file on your Mac Machine you need to decrypt.
Next, right-click on the PDF and select “Open With” as Preview.
After that, if the PDF is protected with the user password enter the same.
Then, go to the File tab in the menu bar and select the option “Export as PDF“.
Now, choose the storage location on your Mac device and click the “Save” button.
Finally, you will get the decrypt PDF file without any encryption.

#2 How to Unencrypt PDF on iPhone Using Files App?

At first, open the files app on your iPhone device.
Next, locate the file to change the encrypted PDF unencrypted.
Then, open the PDF documents & enter the user password if it is imposed.
After that, click on the “Share” button and select the “Save to Files” option.
Now, choose a suitable storage location from your choice.
Finally, open saved PDF files to get the decrypt encrypted PDF files.

#3 How to Decrypt Encrypted PDF Files on Android Phone?

First, locate the required PDF files on your Android Device.
Next, open the located PDF file with a PDF viewer like “Drive PDF Viewer“.
After that, it will prompt you to enter the user password if it is secured.
Now, click on the “Three Vertical Dots” and click on the “Print” button.
After that choose “Save as PDF” and click on the “Download PDF” circular button.
Finally, choose the storage location and click on the “Save” option.

How to Decode PDF Files on Windows Operating System?

You encrypt decrypted PDF files on Windows OS in many ways like using Google Chrome, Google Drive & Opera Browser, etc. However, we will see the methodology of the Google Drive method for both Mac and Windows OS. Now, let’s start with the step-by-step guide to decrypt PDF file with Google Chrome in Windows.

#4 How to Decrypt Encrypted PDF Files Using Google Chrome?

At the start, locate the PDF file on your local desktop you need to decrypt.
Next, right-click on the PDF file and choose “Open With” > “Google Chrome“.
After that, click on the “Print” option from the top left corner of your screen.
Then, choose the “Destination” option as “Save as PDF” from the drop-down menu.
Now, click on the “Save” button and choose the destination saving location.
Finally, click on the “Save” option to unencrypt PDF file from encryption.

#5 How to Decode PDF File using Google Drive on Windows and Mac?

To start, open Google Drive on your local browser and upload an encrypted PDF.
Next, right-click on the encrypted PDF file and choose “Open with Google Docs“.
Now, if the PDF file is encrypted with a user password it will ask to enter the same.
Then, go to the “File” option from the menu bar and click on the “Download” button.
After that, choose the “PDF Document (.pdf)” option from the list.
Finally, you will get a copy of the decrypt PDF file of your original PDF document.

Drawbacks of Using the Free & Manual Techniques

Manual techniques are very time-consuming, they require a manual repetition of the same set of steps for each encrypted PDF file.
Using the Google Drive method to decrypt encrypted PDF files does not guarantee to preserve the formatting of the original PDF document.
Users are not able to change encrypted PDF files to decrypted if Print permission is not provided in the Google Chrome technique.
Requires a lot of technical knowledge of different Operating Systems and does not guarantee successful complete decryption.
There may be chances that some permissions may still imposed like PDF document assembly not allowed which may restrict the user from copying, page extracting, etc.
Some versions of Adobe Acrobat may not be suitable with manual techniques.

Decrypt PDF Files using Expert Tool on Both Mac and Windows

Using BitRecover all-in-one PDF unlocker software you can easily decrypt PDF file for encrypted ones. This a single-panelled utility with the simplest self-explanatory UI/UX that any age group of users can use this utility. This tool can convert secured PDF to unsecured ones without asking about the owner’s password. Additionally, this PDF file can bulk decrypt encrypted PDF files in a single go. Now let’s look towards the working guide to learn how to decode PDF file with encryption.

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#6 How to Decrypt Encrypted PDF Files with Automated Tool?

First, download and install the suggested tool on your system & select the “Import” option.
Next, the users have to select encrypted PDF documents from their local machine.
Now, click the “Save As” button to select the destination path of the resultant decrypt PDFs.
After that, press the “Unlock PDF” button to unencrypt the PDF file and complete the process.
If any PDF file is protected with a user password, then the software will ask about the password.
After that, the software will decrypt encrypted PDF files, the user has to wait till the process has been completed.
Finally, go to the destination path to check the resultant data for the methodology of how to decrypt encrypted PDF files expertly.

Key Differences Between Manual and Expert Approach

Features	Manual Methods	Expert Approach
Ease of Use	Not easy to use and requires technical knowledge for its implementation.	Simple techniques with a few straightforward easy to implement steps
Support	Limited to community forums and blog tutorials.	On purchase, one-year support is provided backed by the expert panel.
Technical Knowledge	Required	Not Required
Batch Decryption	Not Possible	Supported
Formatting Preservation	No Guarantee	100% Guarantee

Conclusion

In this digital column, we have discovered the approaches of how to decrypt encrypted PDF files in 6 different ways. Moreover, we have gained knowledge about types of encryptions in PDF along the way to decode PDF file. However, the manual techniques have some limitations. So, we have seen the expert utility tool for changing encrypted PDF to unencrypted. Finally, we have seen the comparison of manual and pro techniques in tabular format.