PDF document password recovery
Start with a free check of your .pdf file. The exact encryption and the password determine whether recovery is practical.
Check my fileBefore you start
- Keep an unchanged backup of the original file.
- Confirm you own the file or have documented authorization.
- A password prompt is different from a damaged-file or missing-volume error. Record the exact message.
- Recovery is not guaranteed. Long random passwords can be impractical to recover.
What happens after submission?
The recovery service verifies the file, creates a private case and returns a status link. That page shows the server's progress and any available result. A recovered password and an unlocked file are distinguished, and an optional release price is confirmed before checkout.
Format-specific guides
- PDF 1.1-1.3 RC4 40-bit Encryption — Hashcat Mode 10400
- PDF 1.4-1.6 RC4 128-bit Encryption — Hashcat Mode 10500
- PDF 1.7 Level 3 AES-256 — Hashcat Mode 10600
- PDF 1.7 Extension 8 AES-256 — Hashcat Mode 10700
- PDF Encryption History — 1993 to 2026
- Free PDF Password Check
- What To Do When You Forget a PDF Password
- PDF Encryption Standards Explained — RC4 vs AES