Remove password encryption on a pdf in Preview

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Level 1

14 points

Remove password encryption on a pdf in Preview

I created a pdf document, but I want to add pages to it. Unfortunately, I encrypted it with an owner password and it won't let me drag and drop additional pages into the file. How do I remove the owner encryption? I found instructions to save it using a different file name and de-select encryption in the save box. I did not have an option for encryption. I have tried using "export" from Preview and doing the same thing - de-selecting security, but again, I got no option for security when I tried that and the file I created was also encrypted.

I'm stuck. I have the password, but I can't find a way to remove password encryption.

I'm on a MacBook Pro using OS Sequoia

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.3

Posted on Feb 16, 2025 5:22 PM

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Answer 1

TheLittles

Level 10

203,887 points

Feb 16, 2025 5:54 PM in response to desicakes

“Remove password encryption on a pdf in Preview: I created a pdf document, but I want to add pages to it. Unfortunately, I encrypted it with an owner password and it won't let me drag and drop additional pages into the file. How do I remove the owner encryption? […]I'm stuck. I have the password, but I can't find a way to remove password encryption. I'm on a MacBook Pro using OS Sequoia”

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You'll need to remove it using Adobe. The same goes for an MS Word document, where you need to your MS word to do so. So, if you wanted to, you could backup your Mac to a Time Machine Backup > install the free trial > and then restore the Mac from the backup, so that this is no longer on your Mac.

About Getting this:

Go here: Unlock your PDF file in seconds. - Adobe
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Remove password encryption on a pdf in Preview

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