Make Secure PDF Unsecured without Any Issue via 4 Methods
Published: June 5th, 2026 • 9 Min Read
Looking for a solution to make secure PDF unsecured for making access easier, content editing, printing documents, or to archive purpose? Before moving toward the actual methods to save secure PDF as unsecured, first you need to understand that PDF is most common file format, which is easily accessible from any device without showing restrictions. Users are using PDF files to maintain official records, share, or for printing purposes. Locked PDF files are making it difficult for users who need to work on them, especially in case of bulk.
To solve this problem, we will share the four ways to change secured PDF to unsecured. These solutions include manual free methods, & an offline automated tool. By the end of the blog, you will be confident in choosing the correct method as per specific needs & know the exact working steps.
How to Make Secure PDF Unsecured Using Manual Methods
In this section, we are sharing three manual methods to make secure PDF unsecured. Remember, the PDF file must be present on your computer or storage devices. In the steps below, we assumed that PDF files are available on your computer system.
1st Method: How to Save a Secured PDF as Unsecured Using Google Chrome
Follow these listed steps to make secure PDF unsecured:
- Open folder where secured PDF files are stored.
- Now, simply drag & drop located PDF in Google Chrome
- Enter user-level password in Chrome if required.
- After that, click on print button or press the Ctrl + P on keyboard.
- Choose destination path as “Save as PDF” from drop-down.
- Then, click on “Save” button & choose “saving location” on PC.
- Finally, double-click on saved PDF to see converted secured to unsecured PDF.
- Done, using this process, you can simply convert secure PDF to unsecured one.
2nd Method: How to Make a Secured PDF Unsecured with Microsoft Edge
Listed steps of Microsoft Edge, which will help you to change secured PDF Unsecured without password:
- Choose required PDF file for conversion from PC.
- Right-click on chosen PDF file & pick Microsoft Edge from Open With option.
- Now, enter password of PDF file to unlock for one time.
- Click on print button on top-right corner & click on continue.
- Now, choose Printer option, select Microsoft Print to PDF & click Print.
- Select destination path to save PDF file on computer.
- Finally, click on Save button to make secure PDF unsecured.
3rd Method: Convert Protected PDF to Unprotected Amid Adobe Acrobat
Follow all listed steps carefully to save secured PDF as unsecured:
- Download & run Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on PC.
- Go to File & click Open button, choose protected PDF file from desktop.
- Now, enter password for first time to unlock your PDF.
- After that, go to File option & select Security under Properties tab.
- Choose security method & select No Security from drop-down.
- Afterwards, enter user password again as we discussed earlier.
- Enter password & click OK to apply changes.
- After that, save PDF file to desktop using File > Save option.
- Finally, open PDF to get confirmation about conversion of secured PDF to unsecured.
Also Read: How to Remove JavaScript From PDF File
Limitations of Using Manual Methods
- You need to download complete Adobe Acrobat software. That is a very large tool & may work slowly on your PC with fewer or outdated resources.
- Files restricted with print permission do not convert password protected PDF to unprotected with Chrome & Edge.
- Chrome & Edge are online web browsers. So, it is not compatible to carry out the process for PDF with confidential data.
- The Adobe Acrobat PDF reader tool only works when users have a subscription to Adobe tools. Because of this, users need to repeat same steps of other two manual methods.
How to Convert Secured PDF to Unsecured Using Automated Solution
Using an automatic solution is more reliable & safest way to make secure PDF to unsecured. You can try BitRecover PDF Unlocker Software to convert protect PDF to unprotected in batches. Secondly, this advanced utility is designed with such self-explanatory UI/UX, that anyone can use it with any prior training. Moreover, this tool can deal with bulk-secured PDF files for conversion at once.
Steps of Automatic Solution
- Download & Open the suggested application on PC, click Next.
- Now, choose between “Select File” or “Select Folder” > Next.
- After that, choose required PDF files from folders > click Next.
- Then, set destination path on computer.
- Finally, hit “Start” button to make secure PDF unsecured.
- Done!
Benefits of Using Automated Solution
- This desktop-based automated tool supports all versions, sizes, & types of user-protected PDFs.
- Using this tool, users don’t require installation of Adobe Acrobat to remove PDF passwords, due to which you can convert your PDF files simply.
- This PDF Unlocker tool also removes restrictions from PDF files, that might obstruct user’s productivity.
- Tool offers customized saving destination, which provides flexibility to user to save secured PDF as unsecured file anywhere in entire computer system.
- This tool automatically scans & detects PDF files from hidden folders, & displays them on preview screen.
PDF Protection Based on User & Owner Settings
If we talk about secured PDF, there are various PDF protections. However, in broader aspects, it is commonly divided into the following
User Password: – This is a kind of secured PDF document that needs passwords to see the content of the PDF file. Thus, user needs to enter the password to inspect the content in any PDF-viewing utility.
Owner Password: – The owner password, controls permissions in PDF documents on the user level. Some of the globally used permissions restrictions by user passwords are printing, modifying, copying content, adding comments, form filling, signing, etc.
PDF users often encounter the problem to save secured PDF as unsecured for several reasons. Now, moving forward in this digital column we will uncover some of the requirements to do so based on different use cases.
Gratis Vs Pro Ways to Convert Secured PDF to Unsecured
| Criteria | Free Method | Automated Approach |
| Ease of Use | Free techniques are simple to use but you need to proceed with repetitive steps. Additionally, there are several limitations to the gratis approach to change protected PDF to unprotected | The expert methodology is simple to use with the ability to bulk-process secured PDF files to unsecured ones. |
| Scalability | It is recommended to use gratis ways for multiple protected PDF files | This utility is specially designed to carry out large-scale operations to convert secure PDF to unsecure |
| Security | As user needs to take the PDF files to web browsers. So, it is compatible to handle confidential data. | On the other side, this utility is desktop-based with advanced system-level algorithms. It can securely handle PDF with sensitive information. |
| Speed | These free-of-cost techniques may not be handy to use with large PDF files. Additionally, they take time to conversion of secure PDF files with large size. | This tool is fast and optimized with such algorithms to bulk convert protected PDF files to unprotected with large sizes. |
| Functionality | Free methods are limited to changing certain restrictions and may not be able to change certain restrictions | Advanced tool, change protected PDF to unprotected with various restrictions in bulk. |
Conclusion
At the end of this blog on topic “How to make secure PDF unsecured.” We shared total of four ways to save secured PDF as unsecured. In which we test three manual methods & an automated solution. We found manual workaround are consist of some limitations, including repetition of same steps multiple times, not useful in case of bulk PDF files, & lastly, need subscription of Adobe Acrobat application. For such a case, an automated solution is more reliable option to change secured PDF to unsecured one.
We also share a digital column above, in which we have discussed both gratis methods and pro techniques. Lastly, we have shared the comparison of manual methods & an automated approach. Now it’s totally on you which technique you are going to choose to for your benefits with security & privacy. If you still face any kind of challenges while working with our tool, then you can anytime connect with our support team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1) How do you change a secured pdf to unsecured one?
You can use any of the free or expert methods explained above. However, for using the gratis method to remove restrictions from PDF files. PDF mustn’t be restricted from printing.
Q2) How do I save a secured PDF as a regular PDF online?
To convert secured PDF to unsecured online you can use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Meanwhile, before converting please check that the PDF file isn’t restricted from print permission.
Q3) How to unsecure a signed PDF?
To unsecure a signed PDF you need to discard the permission of signing & discard the user password.
Q4) How do I save a secured PDF as Unsecured
You can save secured pdf as unsecured document by using the listed manual methods above, & an automatic solution for quick, smooth conversion.





