Unlock PDFs directly from a URL
Append ?url= followed by a password-protected PDF address and the unlocker opens with that file already loaded — no upload step. Files are fetched server-side, so browser CORS rules don't apply.
How to use
Single PDF
The page loads, the server fetches the PDF, and the unlocker opens with the file ready and a password field waiting.
https://mytools.com/pdf/unlock-pdf/by-url?url=https://example.com/statement.pdf
Multiple PDFs
Repeat the ?url= parameter for as many files as you need. Each one gets its own password field, or you can apply one shared password to the batch.
https://mytools.com/pdf/unlock-pdf/by-url?url=https://example.com/a.pdf&url=https://example.com/b.pdf
Requirements
| Protocol | http:// or https:// only |
| Content-Type | application/pdf or application/octet-stream |
| Source | Any publicly accessible URL |
Server-side fetch · No CORS restrictions · Same unlocker, instant load
Why pass URLs instead of uploading?
Skip the upload step
When you already have a URL — from your CDN, a SharePoint link, or a public bucket — there's no reason to download the file just to upload it again. Pass the URL and unlock directly.
No CORS restrictions
Files are fetched server-side, so it doesn't matter whether the host sets Access-Control-Allow-Origin. URLs that fail in client-only tools work fine here.
Batch unlock from a list of URLs
List as many ?url= parameters as you need — the unlocker receives them all at once, ready for password entry.
Shareable and linkable
The URL is the entire session — share it with a teammate and they land on the same unlocker, with the same files loaded, ready to unlock with the password they already know.
Same unlocker, different entry point
You get the full workspace: per-file password fields, shared password toggle, show/hide password, and per-file status. The only difference is how the files got there.
Fits into automated workflows
Generate the by-url link from a script, a Slack bot, or a CMS button — anywhere you already have a list of locked PDF URLs. The unlocker becomes a one-click step in a longer pipeline.
Build the URL
Start with /pdf/unlock-pdf/by-url, append ?url= and the full PDF address. Repeat the parameter for each file. URL-encode addresses with their own query strings.
The files load automatically
Open the URL in any browser. The page fetches each file server-side and opens the unlocker with everything ready.
Enter the password and unlock
Type the password (or use the shared password toggle), hit Unlock PDFs, and download the cleaned files — same flow as the regular tool.
- PDFs and passwords are never stored — fetched, processed in your browser, and discarded.
- URLs, file content, and passwords are not logged, inspected, or retained.
- No sign-up needed — construct the URL and go.