# Unlock PDF for government offices

_Updated July 2026 · Arthize · https://arthize.com/for/government/unlock-pdf_

Arthize lets public-sector teams unlock a PDF in a private workspace — free, with no watermark. Unlocking a PDF removes a known password or usage restrictions from a document you own, so it opens and prints without prompting.

## Why government offices unlock a PDF

A records officer redacts personal identifiers from a document before a public-records release, converts it to PDF/A for the archive, and merges the case file into a single record.

**Built for case files.** Whether it's case files, public records, forms, Arthize's unlock pdf keeps the work inside your private workspace. Public records contain personal data that must be redacted before release, and files must be handled on trusted infrastructure.

## What matters when you unlock a PDF

Unlocking requires the current password — it removes protection you are entitled to remove.

It is used to clear a known password so a file stops prompting on every open.

Arthize does not crack unknown passwords on documents you don't own.

## How to unlock a PDF

1. **Open the unlock tool** — Sign in and open the Unlock tool.
2. **Add your PDF** — Upload the protected PDF you have the right to open.
3. **Enter the password** — Provide the current password to authorise removing the protection.
4. **Download** — Get an unrestricted copy that opens without a prompt.

## FAQ

### How do government offices unlock a PDF for free?

Unlocking a PDF removes a known password or usage restrictions from a document you own, so it opens and prints without prompting. On Arthize it's free with no watermark, and the file is deleted after the job — which is why public-sector teams can use it for case files without a confidentiality risk.

### Is it private to unlock a PDF sensitive case files?

Yes. Public records contain personal data that must be redacted before release, and files must be handled on trusted infrastructure. Files are processed inside your private Arthize workspace and deleted after the job.

### How do I remove a password from a PDF I own?

Unlocking a PDF removes a known password or usage restrictions from a document you own, so it opens and prints without prompting. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.

### Can I remove printing restrictions from my PDF?

Unlocking a PDF removes a known password or usage restrictions from a document you own, so it opens and prints without prompting. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.