CK PDF Unlocker — Remove PDF Password Protection on Windows & Linux

Installation

Get it your way

Choose any one option below.

EXE installer (recommended)

⬇ Download ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.exe

MSI installer — for enterprise / IT deployments

⬇ Download ck-pdf-unlocker-setup-x64.msi

⚠️ 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.

To proceed: click More info → then click Run anyway.
If unsure, verify the file yourself at VirusTotal before running.

📦 Snap — available now on the Snap Store

sudo snap install ck-pdf-unlocker

Upgrade

sudo snap refresh ck-pdf-unlocker

Launch the GUI with ck-pdf-unlocker.

CLI

Namespaced as ck-pdf-unlocker.ckpdfunlocker by default:

ck-pdf-unlocker.ckpdfunlocker

Prefer the short form? Set up the alias once (a per-machine step snapd requires explicit consent for):

sudo snap alias ck-pdf-unlocker.ckpdfunlocker ckpdfunlocker

After that, both ckpdfunlocker and ck-pdf-unlocker.ckpdfunlocker work.

Uninstall

sudo snap remove 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

Upgrade

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.

Uninstall

flatpak uninstall io.github.epatels.CkPdfUnlocker

📀 AppImage — portable, single-file executable

No installation required. Works on virtually any x86_64 Linux distribution. Download, make executable, and run.

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.

Upgrade

Download the new .AppImage 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

Uninstall

If you used the built-in install prompt:

rm -f ~/.local/bin/ck-pdf-unlocker.AppImage ~/.local/share/applications/ck-pdf-unlocker.desktop ~/.local/share/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps/ck-pdf-unlocker.png && rm -rf ~/.local/share/ck-pdf-unlocker/.appimage-installed && 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.

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!

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

Install

scoop install ck-pdf-unlocker

Update

scoop update ck-pdf-unlocker

Add the bucket (once)

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

Note: Scoop installs the .exe version. For the .msi, use curl or PowerShell above.

EXE Installer

winget install epatels.CKPDFUnlocker

Note: The plain command above installs the EXE version by default. Use the flag below for the MSI installer.

MSI installer — for Enterprise users

winget install epatels.CKPDFUnlocker --installer-type msi

Microsoft Store — via winget

winget install --id 9NZFZNXPFF15 --source msstore

Install

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 Cmd or PowerShell options above instead.

Microsoft Store

CK PDF Unlocker is now available on the Microsoft Store. Install it directly from the Store app — automatic updates are managed by Windows.

Prefer the command line?

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

Opens the Store app directly to the CK PDF Unlocker listing.

New

Command-line interface

Everything the desktop app does is also available from a script or terminal via ckpdfunlocker — same engine, same Password Vault, same Smart Auto-fill logic.

ckpdfunlocker statement.pdf --password hunter2 ckpdfunlocker invoices\*.pdf --owner Dad --sender "HDFC Bank" ckpdfunlocker C:\Downloads --recursive -o C:\Unlocked

Option	Description
`-p, --password PASS`	Password to try on every resolved file
`--owner NAME --sender NAME`	Look up the password in the Vault (both required together)
`--save-password {personal,shared}`	Save Owner + Sender + Password into a vault for future runs — can be combined with file inputs, or run entirely on its own
`-o, --output-dir DIR`	Output folder (default: alongside each source file)
`-r, --recursive`	When an input is a folder, also search subfolders
`--dry-run`	Show what would happen; write nothing
`--json`	Machine-readable summary, for scripts
`--no-store`	Ignore the Password Vault entirely

With no explicit password or Owner/Sender, the CLI auto-matches each file by filename against the Vault — the same Smart Auto-fill used by the desktop app — and only applies a match when it's unambiguous. The CLI and desktop app share the same Personal/Shared databases.

ckpdfunlocker --help — full option reference, always available in the terminal

Cleanup

Uninstalling CK PDF Unlocker

Removing the app never touches your unlocked PDFs or your Password Vault data unless you say so.

🪟 Windows

From Settings → Apps → Installed apps, find CK PDF Unlocker and click Uninstall. Microsoft Store installs can also be removed by right-clicking the app in the Start Menu.

From the command line

winget uninstall epatels.CKPDFUnlocker

scoop uninstall ck-pdf-unlocker

choco uninstall ck-pdf-unlocker

🐧 Linux

Snap

sudo snap remove ck-pdf-unlocker

Flatpak

flatpak uninstall io.github.epatels.CkPdfUnlocker

To also remove app data:

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

AppImage

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

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.

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

New

Enter a password once. Never again.

The headline feature of this release: CK PDF Unlocker now remembers every password you use, and auto-fills it — and the Owner/Sender it belongs to — the next time a matching file shows up.

Unlock it once. Never type that password again — auto-filled, no prompt.

CK PDF Unlocker remembers each password by sender — so the next statement from the same sender fills itself in.

🔒 Personal Passwords

Your own private vault, stored locally. Nobody else sees it.

Best for your own statements, bills, and personal documents
Encrypted on your device only
Filter, edit, or delete entries anytime

🗂️ Shared Passwords — for families & teams

One vault, reused by everyone — point it at a shared or synced folder (e.g. a family NAS, OneDrive, or Google Drive folder) and every household or team member's copy of CK PDF Unlocker auto-fills the same passwords.

Set once — e.g. the electricity board's password — and everyone benefits
Move or copy entries between Personal and Shared with one click
Still encrypted at rest; only people with folder access can read it
Conflicts with Personal entries resolve automatically (most recent wins)

Solve it once. The next file from that sender unlocks itself — for the whole team.

Save a password to the Shared Vault — a teammate's next matching statement skips the prompt entirely.

Session	What happens
1st time — `HDFC_Statement_Jan.pdf`	You confirm Owner + Sender once; the password is saved to the Vault
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

🔐

Save once, unlock forever

Every successful unlock saves its password automatically, keyed by Owner + Sender

🧠

Learns from every confirmation

Auto-fill only reuses Owner/Sender pairs and passwords you've personally confirmed — nothing is guessed

🗂️

Personal & Shared vaults

A private vault for you, plus an optional shared one for a household or team — move, copy, or filter entries between them anytime

⚖️

Automatic conflict resolution

Same Owner/Sender in both vaults with different passwords? The newer one wins — no dialog, no interruption

🔒

Encrypted at rest

Every password is AES-encrypted (via Fernet) in a local SQLite database — never plain text, never uploaded

💾

Backed up daily

Both vaults are backed up automatically every day, with the last 5 backups kept

The Personal Passwords vault — filter by Owner/Sender, or move and copy entries to the Shared vault

How to use

Three steps to an unlocked PDF

No setup, no configuration. For files with copy/print restrictions only — leave the password blank and click Unlock.

Launch the app and add your PDFs

Click + Add Files, drag and drop PDFs into the window, or double-click the file list area. Add as many files as you like.

Enter passwords (if needed)

Enter each file's password in the Password column — or use the Global Password field if all files share the same one. Leave blank for copy/print-only restrictions.

Click Unlock PDF

The unlocked copy is saved as yourfile_unlocked.pdf next to the original, or in a custom output folder you choose. Your original is never touched.

Adding files, with auto-fill in progress

Add a file — Owner, Sender, and Password auto-fill from the Vault

Done — restrictions detected, password saved, and the result logged

Output 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 statement_jan_unlocked.pdf already exists, CK PDF Unlocker won't overwrite it — it saves as statement_jan_unlocked-v2.pdf, -v3, and so on.

Who is it for

Anyone who gets locked PDFs they legitimately own

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. Unlock them all at once for easy archiving and sharing with your accountant.

🧾

Utility Bills

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

💼

Tax Documents & Government Records

Tax authorities and government agencies issue password-protected PDFs — acknowledgements, assessment notices, certificates.

🏠

Loan & Insurance Documents

Home loan statements, insurance policy documents, and premium receipts are routinely sent as locked PDFs.

💳

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 to share easily with other doctors or insurance providers.

📚

Research Papers & Reports

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

🏛️

Regulatory & Compliance Documents

Licences, certificates, and regulatory filings from government portals often come with restrictions — unlock for filing, printing, or archival.

Key features

Built for real workflows

A focused tool that does one job extremely well.

🔐

Password Vault

Enter a password once and it's saved automatically — the next matching file unlocks itself.

🧠

Smart auto-fill

Detects Owner and Sender from the filename and learns from every confirmed match, getting smarter the more you use it.

🗂️

Personal & Shared vaults

A private vault for you, plus an optional shared one for a household or team — conflicts resolved automatically.

📂

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 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 across all PDF encryption types.

🖱️

Drag and drop

Drag PDF files directly into the file list. No menus required.

⌨️

Command-line interface

ckpdfunlocker — script and automate unlocking, 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.

FAQ

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.

Stop re-entering passwords on PDFs you already own

Get it your way

Command-line interface

Uninstalling CK PDF Unlocker

100% Free — in every sense of the word

Two kinds of PDF restrictions — both removed

Enter a password once. Never again.

Three steps to an unlocked PDF

Anyone who gets locked PDFs they legitimately own

Built for real workflows

Your files stay on your machine — always

Shape what comes next

Frequently asked questions

Ready to unlock your PDFs?