🔓 CK PDF Unlocker

Stop re-entering passwords. Remove passwords and copy/print restrictions from PDF files — safely, locally, and without changing your originals.

⚠️ This app does NOT crack or recover passwords. It cannot find or guess a lost password. It is designed solely to eliminate the hassle of re-entering a known password every time you open a PDF you already have legitimate access to.

🌐 epatels.github.io/ck-pdf-unlocker

Download & Install — Windows

👇 Pick one option below to download and install CK PDF Unlocker.

Method	Best for
🏪 Microsoft Store	Easiest — auto-updates, sandboxed
📦 Winget	Windows Package Manager users
💻 Command Prompt (curl)	Quick install via terminal
⚡ PowerShell	Quick install via terminal
🪣 Scoop	Scoop users
🍫 Chocolatey	Chocolatey users
⬇️ Direct download	No terminal, no package manager

Looking for Linux? See the 🐧 Linux section below.

🏪 Microsoft Store

Prefer the command line? Open the Store listing directly:

start ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9NZFZNXPFF15

📦 Winget

winget install epatels.CKPDFUnlocker

Note: This installs the EXE version by default. For the MSI installer — recommended for Enterprise/IT deployment — use:

winget install epatels.CKPDFUnlocker --installer-type msi

Note: You can also install straight from the Microsoft Store using winget:

winget install --id 9NZFZNXPFF15 --source msstore

💻 Command Prompt — curl

EXE installer:

curl -L -o "%TEMP%\ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.exe" https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest/download/ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.exe && start /wait "" "%TEMP%\ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.exe" /S && echo CK PDF Unlocker installed successfully!

MSI installer: — for Enterprise users

curl -L -o "%TEMP%\ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.msi" https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest/download/ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.msi && msiexec /i "%TEMP%\ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.msi" /qb /norestart && echo CK PDF Unlocker installed successfully!

⚡ PowerShell

EXE installer:

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest/download/ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.exe" -OutFile "$env:TEMP\ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.exe"; Start-Process "$env:TEMP\ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.exe" -ArgumentList "/S" -Wait; Write-Host "CK PDF Unlocker installed successfully!" -ForegroundColor Green

MSI installer: — for Enterprise users

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest/download/ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.msi" -OutFile "$env:TEMP\ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.msi"; Start-Process msiexec -ArgumentList "/i `"$env:TEMP\ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.msi`" /qb /norestart" -Verb RunAs -Wait; Write-Host "CK PDF Unlocker installed successfully!" -ForegroundColor Green

🪣 Scoop

Note: Scoop installs the .exe version. If you need the .msi installer, use the Command Prompt or PowerShell options above.

scoop install ck-pdf-unlocker

To update to the latest version:

scoop update ck-pdf-unlocker

Add the bucket once, if not already done:

scoop bucket add epatels https://github.com/epatels/scoop-bucket

🍫 Chocolatey

choco install ck-pdf-unlocker

Note: The build script automatically prefers the MSI — it only falls back to the EXE if no MSI was uploaded to that GitHub release. There is no --installer-type switch like winget's, so you can't choose at install time; if you specifically need one or the other, use the Command Prompt or PowerShell options above instead.

⬇️ Direct download


Recommended for most users
For Enterprise / IT deployment

⚠️ Windows SmartScreen warning on first run

When you first run the app, Windows may show a warning saying "Windows protected your PC". This is expected and completely normal for any new, independently distributed application — it does not mean the file is unsafe.

This happens because the .exe is not yet code-signed with a commercial certificate (which costs hundreds of dollars per year). The tool is clean and contains no malware or spyware.

To proceed: click More info → then click Run anyway.

🐧 Download & Install — Linux

👇 Pick one option below.

Method	Best for
📦 Snap	Ubuntu and other snap-enabled distros — auto-updates
📥 Flatpak	Any modern distro with Flatpak set up
📀 AppImage	Portable — runs on any distro, no installation required

📦 Snap

CK PDF Unlocker is published on the Snap Store.

sudo snap install ck-pdf-unlocker

Launch the GUI:

ck-pdf-unlocker

Run the CLI — snap namespaces it as ck-pdf-unlocker.ckpdfunlocker by default, since the command name differs from the snap name:

ck-pdf-unlocker.ckpdfunlocker

To use the shorter ckpdfunlocker instead, set up the alias once (snapd requires this explicit, per-machine step — it can't be done automatically at install time):

sudo snap alias ck-pdf-unlocker.ckpdfunlocker ckpdfunlocker

After that, both forms work:

ckpdfunlocker
ck-pdf-unlocker.ckpdfunlocker

To update:

sudo snap refresh ck-pdf-unlocker

📥 Flatpak

Download + install:

curl -L -o ck-pdf-unlocker.flatpak https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest/download/ck-pdf-unlocker.flatpak && flatpak install --user ck-pdf-unlocker.flatpak

Run:

flatpak run io.github.epatels.CkPdfUnlocker

Update to the latest version (download a fresh .flatpak from the link above, then):

flatpak install --user --reinstall ck-pdf-unlocker.flatpak

This installs straight from a downloaded file, not from a store — flatpak update won't pick up new versions automatically. Repeat the download step above for each new release.

📀 AppImage

A portable, single-file executable — no installation required. Works on virtually any x86_64 Linux distribution.

Download + run:

curl -L -o ck-pdf-unlocker.AppImage https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest/download/ck-pdf-unlocker.AppImage && chmod +x ck-pdf-unlocker.AppImage && ./ck-pdf-unlocker.AppImage

On first run, the AppImage offers to install itself — it copies to ~/.local/bin/, adds an icon and a .desktop file so CK PDF Unlocker appears in your application menu. You can decline and just run it portably.

Update to the latest version:

Download the new .AppImage from the latest release and replace the old file:

curl -L -o ~/.local/bin/ck-pdf-unlocker.AppImage https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest/download/ck-pdf-unlocker.AppImage && chmod +x ~/.local/bin/ck-pdf-unlocker.AppImage

Your data in ~/Documents/CK PDF Unlocker/ is completely separate from the AppImage file and is never affected by updates.

⌨️ Command-Line Interface (CLI)

New in this release: ckpdfunlocker, a full-featured CLI for scripting and automation — built on the same engine, Password Vault, and Smart Auto-fill logic as the desktop app.

:: Unlock a single file with a known password
ckpdfunlocker statement.pdf --password hunter2

:: Look up the password in the Vault by Owner + Sender
ckpdfunlocker invoices\*.pdf --owner Dad --sender "HDFC Bank"

:: Unlock an entire folder (and subfolders), auto-matching each file by filename
ckpdfunlocker C:\Downloads --recursive -o C:\Unlocked

:: Save a password to the Vault for future use, without unlocking anything yet
ckpdfunlocker --owner "Priya" --sender "State Electricity Board" --password mypw --save-password personal

Option	Description
`inputs`	PDF file(s), folder(s), and/or glob pattern(s), e.g. `*.pdf`
`-p, --password PASS`	Password to try on every resolved file
`--owner NAME` / `--sender NAME`	Look up the password in the Vault by Owner + Sender (both required together)
`--save-password {personal,shared}`	Save/update Owner + Sender + Password into the given vault for future reuse — requires all three, and can be combined with file inputs or run entirely on its own (no files) just to pre-populate the Vault
`--no-store`	Never consult the Vault — files with no explicit `--password` are reported as skipped
`-o, --output-dir DIR`	Output folder (default: alongside each source file, as `<name>_unlocked.pdf`)
`-r, --recursive`	When an input is a folder, also search subfolders
`--dry-run`	Show what would happen; write nothing
`--json`	Also print a machine-readable JSON summary
`-q, --quiet`	Only print the final summary line(s)
`--version`	Print the version and exit
`--accept-eula`	Accept the license non-interactively (needed once; shared with the desktop app's first-run dialog)

With no --password or --owner/--sender given, the CLI auto-matches each file by filename against the Vault — the same Smart Auto-fill the desktop app uses — and only applies a match when it's unambiguous. Both the CLI and desktop app read and write the same Personal/Shared databases, so anything saved in one shows up instantly in the other.

🗑️ Uninstall

Windows

From Settings:

Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find CK PDF Unlocker, and click Uninstall.

From the command line:

:: Winget
winget uninstall epatels.CKPDFUnlocker

:: Scoop
scoop uninstall ck-pdf-unlocker

:: Chocolatey
choco uninstall ck-pdf-unlocker

Microsoft Store installs can be uninstalled from Settings → Apps or by right-clicking the app in the Start Menu and selecting Uninstall.

Linux — Snap

sudo snap remove ck-pdf-unlocker

Linux — Flatpak

flatpak uninstall io.github.epatels.CkPdfUnlocker

To also remove the app data:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data io.github.epatels.CkPdfUnlocker

Linux — AppImage

If you used the built-in install prompt on first run:

# Remove the AppImage binary
rm -f ~/.local/bin/ck-pdf-unlocker.AppImage

# Remove the desktop entry and icon
rm -f ~/.local/share/applications/ck-pdf-unlocker.desktop
rm -f ~/.local/share/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps/ck-pdf-unlocker.png

# Remove the install marker
rm -rf ~/.local/share/ck-pdf-unlocker/.appimage-installed

# Refresh the app menu
update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications/ 2>/dev/null || true

If you ran it portably (never installed), just delete the .AppImage file.

Your data in ~/Documents/CK PDF Unlocker/ is not removed by any of the above. Delete that folder manually if you no longer need your Password Vault and settings.

🆕 What's New — Enter a Password Once. Never Again.

This is a major release. The single biggest change: CK PDF Unlocker now remembers every password you use and auto-fills it the next time — no more digging through emails or sticky notes for a password you've typed a hundred times before.


🔐 Save once, unlock forever	The first time you unlock a file, its password is saved automatically. The next file from the same sender unlocks itself.
🧠 Smart, self-learning auto-fill	The app reads each filename and learns which Owner and Sender it belongs to — the more you use it, the fewer clicks each new batch takes.
🗂️ Personal & Shared Password Vaults	Keep your own private vault, or a shared one for a household/team — encrypted, backed up daily, and automatically conflict-free.
⌨️ New CLI	`ckpdfunlocker` — script or automate unlocking from the command line, using the very same Vault and auto-fill logic as the desktop app.

100% Free — No Strings Attached


✅ Completely free	No payment, no subscription, no trial
✅ Offline	File does not leave your device
✅ No registration	No account, no email, no credit card, no phone
✅ No ads	Clean, distraction-free interface
✅ No malware or spyware	Every release is independently scanned by VirusTotal — see Security below
✅ No expiry	Download once, use forever
✅ No Watermark	Absolutely no restrictions
✅ Commercial use allowed	Use it for your business without restrictions
✅ Original files untouched	A new `_unlocked.pdf` is always created — originals are never modified

What It Does

CK PDF Unlocker removes two kinds of PDF restrictions:

Restriction	What it means	After unlocking
Open password	You're prompted for a password just to open the file	File opens freely
Copy / print restrictions	File opens but you can't copy text, print, or edit	All restrictions lifted

Your original file is never modified. CK PDF Unlocker always creates a new file alongside the original — named filename_unlocked.pdf — or in a folder of your choice. The original stays exactly as it was.

Who Is It For?

Anyone who receives password-protected or restricted PDFs they legitimately own or have authorisation to access — anywhere in the world. If you've ever had to dig up a password just to open a file you already own, this tool is for you.

🏦 Bank Statements

Banks routinely send monthly statements as password-protected PDFs. CK PDF Unlocker lets you unlock them all at once, making them easy to archive, search, and share with your accountant — without hunting for the password every single time.

🧾 Utility Bills

Electricity, water, gas, and broadband providers frequently email bills as protected PDFs. Unlocking them lets you copy text for expense claims or print them without restriction.

💼 Tax Documents & Government Records

Tax authorities, income portals, and government agencies around the world issue password-protected PDFs — acknowledgements, assessment notices, certificates. Unlock them once and store them freely.

🏠 Loan & Insurance Documents

Home loan statements, insurance policy documents, and premium receipts are routinely sent as locked PDFs. Unlock them to combine, annotate, or share with co-applicants or advisers.

💳 Credit Card Statements

Monthly credit card statements from most banks are password-protected. Process multiple months in a single run.

📊 Salary Slips & HR Documents

Many payroll systems generate password-protected payslips. Unlock them for easy reference during loan applications or tax filing.

🏥 Medical Records & Lab Reports

Diagnostic labs and hospitals sometimes send reports as restricted PDFs. Unlock them to share easily with other doctors or insurance providers.

📚 Research Papers & Reports

Some downloaded research papers or internal reports have copy restrictions that prevent highlighting or extracting quotes. Remove the restrictions to work with the content normally.

🏛️ Regulatory & Compliance Documents

Licences, certificates, and regulatory filings from government portals often come with restrictions. Unlock them for filing, printing, or long-term archival.

Key Features

🔐 Password Vault — enter a password once and it's saved automatically; the next matching file unlocks without asking
🧠 Smart auto-fill — auto-detects Owner and Sender from the filename, and gets better the more you use it (see below)
Personal & Shared databases — a private vault for you, plus an optional shared vault for a household or team, with automatic conflict resolution
Batch processing — add as many PDFs as you like and unlock them all in one click
Per-file passwords — each file can have its own password, or use a single global password for all files
Original file untouched — a new _unlocked file is always created; the original is never modified or deleted
Output folder control — save unlocked files alongside originals, or choose a custom output folder
Dual engine — uses pikepdf as the primary engine with qpdf as a fallback for maximum compatibility
Drag and drop — drag PDF files directly into the file list
⌨️ Command-line interface — ckpdfunlocker, for scripting and automation, sharing the same Vault and auto-fill logic as the desktop app
Dark / Light / System theme — choose your preferred theme; it's remembered across sessions
Auto-update — notified in-app when a new version is available, with one-click update
Output metadata — every unlocked PDF is stamped with the tool name, version, timestamp, and a unique document ID for traceability
In-app Help Center — a searchable-by-topic help panel (Help → Help Center, or press F1) covering the Vault, auto-fill, CLI, and FAQ
Anonymous telemetry — optional, opt-in only; helps improve the tool (no filenames or passwords ever sent)

🔐 Smart Password Vault & Auto-fill

The headline feature of this release: you should never have to type the same PDF password twice.

Enter it once — CK PDF Unlocker remembers it

The moment you successfully unlock a file, its password is saved automatically into the Password Vault, keyed by:

Owner — who the document belongs to (e.g. "Dad", "Priya", "Acme Pvt Ltd")
Sender — who issued it (e.g. "HDFC Bank", "State Electricity Board")

The next PDF from that same sender — this month's statement, next quarter's bill — is matched automatically and unlocked without you typing a thing.

Auto-fill that learns from you

When you add a file, CK PDF Unlocker reads the filename and tries to work out its Owner and Sender on its own. The first time it sees an unfamiliar filename pattern, it may ask you to confirm — after that, it remembers the pattern, so similarly-named files are recognized instantly from then on.

Session	What happens
1st time you unlock `HDFC_Statement_Jan.pdf`	You confirm Owner + Sender once; password is saved
2nd time (`HDFC_Statement_Feb.pdf`)	Owner, Sender, and password are all auto-filled
Every month after	Zero clicks — just add the file and hit Unlock

Personal Passwords vs. Shared Passwords

	🔒 Personal Passwords	🗂️ Shared Passwords — for families & teams
Who it's for	Just you	A household or small team
Where it lives	Your own device, local only	Point it at a shared or synced folder (e.g. a family NAS, OneDrive, or Google Drive folder)
What you get	Your own statements, bills, and personal documents unlock themselves	Set a password once — e.g. the electricity board's — and everyone's copy of CK PDF Unlocker auto-fills it
Managing entries	Filter, edit, or delete anytime	Same, plus move/copy entries to or from Personal with one click
Security	Encrypted at rest, visible only to you	Still encrypted at rest — only people with access to that shared folder can read it
Conflicts	—	If the same Owner/Sender exists in both vaults, the most recently updated entry wins automatically — no dialog, no interruption

Switch between them from the Personal Passwords / Shared Passwords tabs at the top of the window. Each vault lists every saved entry with its Owner, Sender, Password, Last Modified (UTC), and Modified By — and you can:

+ Add an entry manually
Move to Shared Passwords / Copy to Shared Passwords — promote a personal entry to the shared vault (or vice versa)
Delete an entry you no longer need
Filter by Owner or Sender, with one click to Clear Filter
Show All to reset any active filter
Open DB Settings to relocate the database file (e.g. onto a synced/shared drive) or view its path

Safe by design

Every password is encrypted at rest (AES via Fernet) inside a local SQLite database — never stored in plain text, never uploaded anywhere
Both vaults are backed up automatically every day (last 5 backups kept)
Auto-fill only ever reuses Owner/Sender pairs and passwords you've personally confirmed — nothing is guessed or scraped from the file's contents
Import/export either vault to/from Excel (.xlsx) for bulk setup or backup

Demo

Screenshots

_{Add files — Owner, Sender, and Password auto-fill as you type, keyed to the Password Vault}	_{A successful unlock — restrictions detected, password saved, output logged}	_{Personal Passwords vault — filter, move/copy to Shared, and manage every saved entry}
_{ckpdfunlocker — the new CLI, sharing the same Vault as the desktop app}	_{The in-app Help Center (Help → Help Center, or F1)}

How to Use

Basic — single file

Launch the app
Click + Add Files (or double-click the file list area, or drag and drop)
Select your PDF
If the file has an open password, enter it in the Password column — or let auto-fill do it for you
Click Unlock PDF(s) →
The unlocked file is saved as yourfile_unlocked.pdf in the same folder

Your original file is not changed. A brand new unlocked copy is created. You can delete it, keep both, or replace the original manually — the choice is yours.

Understanding the file table

Column	Meaning
Owner	Who the document belongs to (auto-filled or typed)
Sender	Who issued it, e.g. a bank or utility company (auto-filled or typed)
Password	The password to try — auto-filled from the Vault when Owner + Sender are recognized
PW	Shows whether a password was found/looked up for this row
R	Restrictions detected in the original file (e.g. Modify, Copy)
DB	Which vault (Personal or Shared) this row's password is looked up from / saved to

Batch — multiple files

Add as many PDFs as you like using + Add Files (or drag and drop multiple files)
Enter passwords per file if needed, or use the Common Password for all PDFs field and click Apply to all
Choose an output folder if you want all files saved to one place instead of next to their originals
Click Unlock PDF(s) →

If a file named statement_unlocked.pdf already exists at the destination, CK PDF Unlocker won't overwrite it — it saves as statement_unlocked-v2.pdf, -v3, and so on.

Files with copy/print restrictions only (no open password)

Leave the password field blank. CK PDF Unlocker will strip the restrictions automatically — no password required.

Output File Naming

Original file	Unlocked file
`statement_jan.pdf`	`statement_jan_unlocked.pdf`
`ITR_acknowledgement.pdf`	`ITR_acknowledgement_unlocked.pdf`
`salary_slip_march.pdf`	`salary_slip_march_unlocked.pdf`

If you specify a custom output folder (Step 3), unlocked files are saved there instead of next to the originals.

Requirements

Component	Details
OS	Windows 10 or Windows 11, or Linux (via Snap, Flatpak, or AppImage — see Linux install)
Runtime	None — everything is bundled (the CLI, `ckpdfunlocker`, is included alongside the GUI on every platform)
qpdf	Downloaded automatically if needed on Windows; bundled directly in the Snap/Flatpak/AppImage builds

Privacy & Telemetry

On first launch, CK PDF Unlocker asks if you'd like to share anonymous usage statistics to help improve the tool.

What is sent (if you opt in):

App version
Operating system name and version
Number of files processed per run
Success/failure count
Processing time

What is never sent — ever:

Filenames
File paths
Passwords
File contents
Any personally identifiable information

You can change your preference at any time via Theme → Settings.

How It Works

CK PDF Unlocker uses two industry-standard open-source PDF libraries:

pikepdf (primary) — a Python library built on QPDF that handles most standard PDF encryption schemes
qpdf (fallback) — used when pikepdf alone cannot remove a particular encryption layer

Feedback & Suggestions

Found a bug? Have an idea for a new feature? Your feedback is welcome and helps make the tool better.

🐛 Report a bug → Open a bug report
💬 Suggest a feature → Open a feature request
📋 Browse existing issues → Issues page

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this legal? Yes, if you are unlocking PDFs that you own or have a legitimate right to access. Removing restrictions from your own bank statements, utility bills, or tax documents is entirely lawful. Do not use this tool to bypass protections on documents you do not own or are not authorised to access.

Will my original file be changed? No. CK PDF Unlocker never modifies the original file. It always creates a new file ending in _unlocked.pdf.

What if I enter the wrong password? The tool will report a failure for that file in the log. The original file is not affected. Correct the password and try again.

What PDF encryption types are supported? RC4 (40-bit and 128-bit) and AES (128-bit and 256-bit) — the full range used by standard PDF producers including banks, government portals, and office software.

Can it unlock PDFs without a password (copy/print restrictions only)? Yes. If a PDF opens freely but has printing or copying disabled, leave the password field blank and click Unlock. The restrictions will be removed.

Does it work on scanned PDFs? Yes — the encryption wrapper is removed regardless of whether the PDF contains text or scanned images.

Is my saved password safe? Yes. The Password Vault encrypts every password before it touches disk (AES via Fernet), and nothing is ever sent off your device.

What if Smart Auto-fill picks the wrong Owner or Sender? Just correct it once in the row — that correction is exactly what the app learns from, so future files with a similar filename improve.

Does the CLI share the same Vault as the desktop app? Yes — both read and write the same Personal/Shared databases, so a password saved in one is instantly available in the other.

🛡️ Security — VirusTotal Verification

Release v8.4.0 assets have been independently scanned by VirusTotal. Click a link below to view the live scan results:

Installer	VirusTotal Result
`.exe` (recommended)	View scan ↗
`.msi` (enterprise)	View scan ↗

Scans are submitted automatically on each release. Results reflect the file at the GitHub release download URL.

License

CK PDF Unlocker is proprietary, freeware software — free to use, including for commercial use, but not open source. Use is governed by an End-User License Agreement (EULA); a copy is provided as LICENSE. Redistribution, modification, and reverse engineering are not permitted — see the EULA for full terms.

Acknowledgements

pikepdf — the core PDF processing library
qpdf — the underlying C++ PDF engine
PostHog — open-source product analytics

Built with ❤️ by epatels · epatels.github.io/ck-pdf-unlocker

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 102 Commits
.github/workflows		.github/workflows
banners		banners
screenshots		screenshots
.gitignore		.gitignore
LICENSE		LICENSE
PRIVACY.md		PRIVACY.md
README.md		README.md
bug_report.md		bug_report.md
ck-pdf-unlocker-1024.png		ck-pdf-unlocker-1024.png
ck-pdf-unlocker-banner-720x240.svg		ck-pdf-unlocker-banner-720x240.svg
ck-pdf-unlocker-banner-social-preview.png		ck-pdf-unlocker-banner-social-preview.png
ck-pdf-unlocker-banner.svg		ck-pdf-unlocker-banner.svg
ck-pdf-unlocker.ico		ck-pdf-unlocker.ico
feature_request.md		feature_request.md

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