Remove a PDF Password Using PDF.co and Zapier

Step 1: Set Up the Google Drive Trigger

Create a Zap and select Google Drive with the New File in Folder trigger.

Connect your Google account, select the drive and source folder, then test the trigger to retrieve your sample PDF.

Step 2: Configure PDF.co

Add PDF.co and select PDF Security.

Connect your PDF.co account by signing in and authorizing Zapier through OAuth.

Configure:

• Source File URL: Map the File property from Google Drive.
• Operation Mode: Select Remove Security.
• User Password: Enter the existing password used to open the PDF, if applicable.
• Owner Password: Enter the existing owner password used to control editing and permissions, if applicable.
• File Name: Enter unprotected.pdf or your preferred output name.
• Custom Profiles: Leave blank.

Provide the known password in the appropriate password field; at least one is required for removal. Leave settings for adding encryption and restrictions unchanged.

See the PDF Security documentation.

Step 3: Test the Password Removal

Test the PDF.co action and open the returned PDF URL.

Confirm that the output opens without requesting a password and that its contents are intact. The original file in Google Drive remains unchanged.

Step 4: Save the Unprotected Copy

Add Google Drive’s Upload File action and configure:

• Folder: Select the processed-files folder.
• File: Map the PDF URL returned by PDF.co.
• File Name: Enter a recognizable PDF filename.
• Convert to Document: Select No.

Keep the destination separate from the trigger folder to prevent repeated processing. Limit access to the destination folder as appropriate, since the saved copies are no longer password-protected.

Test the upload, verify the saved PDF, and publish the Zap.