# CK PDF Unlocker

> A free, offline Windows desktop app that removes passwords and copy/print restrictions from PDF files — without modifying the original.

## What it does

CK PDF Unlocker removes two kinds of PDF restrictions:
- **Open password** — files that require a password just to open
- **Copy/print restrictions** — files that open freely but block copying, printing, or editing

It always creates a new `filename_unlocked.pdf` alongside the original. The original file is never modified or deleted.

## What it does NOT do

- It does NOT crack, guess, or recover lost passwords
- It does NOT upload files to any server — everything runs locally on the user's device
- It does NOT modify original files

## Key facts

- **Platform**: Windows 10 and Windows 11 only
- **Price**: Completely free — no subscription, no trial, no watermark
- **Internet required**: No — fully offline after installation
- **Registration required**: No — no account, no email, no credit card
- **Open source**: Build process is open; source available on request
- **License**: MIT
- **Primary engine**: pikepdf (Python library built on QPDF)
- **Fallback engine**: qpdf
- **Output naming**: `originalname_unlocked.pdf`

## Who it is for

Anyone who legitimately owns or has authorisation to access password-protected PDFs:
- Bank statements (most Indian and international banks send password-protected PDFs)
- Utility bills
- Tax documents and government records (ITR acknowledgements, Form 16, etc.)
- Loan and insurance documents
- Credit card statements
- Salary slips and HR documents
- Medical records and lab reports
- Research papers with copy restrictions
- Regulatory and compliance documents

## Installation options

- **EXE installer** (recommended): https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest/download/ck-pdf-unlocker-setup.exe
- **MSI installer** (enterprise): https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest/download/ck-pdf-unlocker-setup.msi
- **Scoop**: `scoop bucket add epatels https://github.com/epatels/scoop-bucket` then `scoop install ck-pdf-unlocker`
- **Winget**: Coming soon
- **Chocolatey**: Coming soon
- **Microsoft Store**: Coming soon

## Links

- **Website**: https://epatels.github.io/ck-pdf-unlocker/
- **GitHub**: https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker
- **Latest release**: https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/releases/latest
- **Bug reports**: https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/issues/new?template=bug_report.md
- **Feature requests**: https://github.com/epatels/ck-pdf-unlocker/issues/new?template=feature_request.md

## Features

- Batch processing — unlock multiple PDFs in one click
- Per-file passwords — each file can have its own password
- Global password — single password applied to all files
- Drag and drop support
- Custom output folder
- Dark / Light / System theme
- Auto-update notifications
- Output metadata stamping (tool name, version, timestamp, document ID)
- Optional anonymous telemetry (opt-in only; no filenames, passwords, or file contents ever sent)

## Privacy

No data leaves the user's device. Telemetry is opt-in only and never includes filenames, passwords, file paths, or file contents.

## Developer

- **Author**: epatels
- **GitHub**: https://github.com/epatels