How to batch unlock multiple PDFs which have same known password?

Question

I have several PDF files each with the same password that I know.

What tool or method could batch unlock them and provide a copy of each of the PDFs as an unlocked version?

There's CutePDF - could I use this to print all the PDFs to PDF and it will batch unlock them?

Also: - Virtual Image Printer driver - sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/‎ - pdfforge.org

Can these unlock in batch?

Solution 1

The following program did the job:

http://www.a-pdf.com/faq/how-to-decrypt-pdf-security.htm

The download trial for it worked. Purchasing the full version at $27 which I think is reasonable for a convenient tool that works.

Update

There is also ilovepdf.com which is a freemium service in that it has some free options that may cover those doing a similar task as me, depending on the quantity and other conditions of using the free version. Pricing information if requirements are not offered by the free service are here: https://www.ilovepdf.com/pricing

No affiliation. The above came from a suggested edit from user Rythorian Ethrovon Their affiliation not known. I included the reference to ilovepdf as an update to this existing answer, to add to the original, rather than a complete replacement to my existing answer.

My response on their edit suggestion is: 1. don't suggest an edit that entirely replaces the original answer that still had the same useful value. 2. Instead of posting your solution as a edit suggestion, post your solution as an additional answer - you can do that! Or as a comment.

All that said, my preference is for my original answer in a-pdf because it is an application, which, as far as i can tell, handles all my pdf file data locally, rather than as a cloud service where I may have less control or understanding of how long my pdf files would be stored in the cloud and if they would be used for purposes outside of my task. But cloud services can suit many, including me, jsut depends on the specific circumstance.

Solution 2

You can try cipherbox, a free software to unlock your password-protected PDF files in batch. According to the description of its webpage, cipherbox works on all PDF versions including AES encryption. It applies to word and zip files too.

Solution 3

Use pdftk

pdftk input.pdf output output.pdf user_pw PASSWORD

and a simple for-loop in your shell.

Comments

[Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007]

possible duplicate of FOSS Script for unlocking PDF for printing

[therobyouknow]

I don't think that it is a duplicate @techie007 as that question deals with DRM, my question isn't about DRMed PDFs, simply PDFs that are password protected. Thanks.

[Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007]

Password protecting a PDF is a form of DRM. ;)

[Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007]

I can see your points, and they are valid (or at least reasonable ;) ). Hence why it takes 5 votes to close -- we'll let others read what we've written here and they can decide. :)

[Glutanimate]

On Linux you can use qpdf for the task. See here for a batch decryption script which can be easily integrated into the context menu of file managers like Nautilus.

[therobyouknow]

+1 Thanks Glutanimate for the qpdf example, I did see qpdf in search results but the apparent fiddling with package managers etc put me off. Don't get me wrong, I use Linux all the time and deal with this stuff, I just didn't feel like the effort was worth it (maybe another time when I had more motivation perhaps). So the a-pdf.com/faq/how-to-decrypt-pdf-security.htm suited me just fine: download, install, run, clikc here and there and done! Life's too short... Oh, and I preferred a Windows solution as my tags in the question indicate. thanks anyway, upvoted ya!

[Declan McKenna]

I don't have the reputation to post. In the terminal go to the directory with your files then call brew install qpdf then for file in *.pdf; do $(qpdf -password=password123 -decrypt --replace-input $file); done

[therobyouknow]

+1 thanks I'll check it out when I get home and have time/access to the documents.

[therobyouknow]

For me this didn't work, got error OWNER PASSWORD REQUIRED, but not given (or incorrect) when I tried BOTH user_pw and/or owner_pw as command line options as described in the documentation. Conclusion: pdftk didn't know how to decrypt my particular PDFs - but might work for someone else's.

[therobyouknow]

@Rythorian Ethrovon see above answer update making use of your suggested edit. Thank you.