# What are the best free apps to unlock my PDF files? **URL:** \ **Category:** Signing & Passwords\ **Tags:** excel\ **Created:** [October 29, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58 "2026-10-29T15:23:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iron](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/a5b964/32.png) [@iron](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/iron)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/1 "2026-10-29T15:23:13Z")
My 40-page scanned contract is too big for a portal that only takes files under 10 MB, and I can’t install software on my work laptop. What’s a good online way to compress the PDF? ---
**Author:** ![ashley.cardiff](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/ashley.cardiff/32/31_2.png) [@ashley.cardiff](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/ashley.cardiff)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/2 "2026-10-29T15:25:37Z")
I agree, that limit is annoying. Honestly, I would not upload a contract to an online compressor, since you cannot control where the file goes. What I would try is opening it in Word and saving as a PDF, or printing to PDF using the built in option on your laptop. It may not shrink a 40 page scan enough, but it is safe and needs no install. ---
**Author:** ![cameron2002](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/cameron2002/32/22_2.png) [@cameron2002](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/cameron2002)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/3 "2026-10-30T12:25:26Z")
iLovePDF or Smallpdf both run in the browser, nothing to install. Upload, pick the strongest compression, and download. One caution with scanned contracts: heavy compression makes text blury fast, so open the result and check it’s still readable. If it’s still over 10 MB, split it into two PDFs and upload separately. ---
**Author:** ![reckless\_legend](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/reckless_legend/32/32_2.png) [@reckless\_legend](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/reckless_legend)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2026, 5:25am UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/4 "2026-10-31T05:25:23Z")
Try an online PDF compressor in your phone browser, choosing medium compression first so the scanned text stays readable. Because it’s a contract, avoid uploading it to a random site unless your employer allows it, and check the reduced file before sending. ---
**Author:** ![guitar\_mouse](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/guitar_mouse/32/33_2.png) [@guitar\_mouse](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/guitar_mouse)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 10:10am UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/5 "2026-11-01T10:10:26Z")
Honestly, for a scanned contract, I would only use an online service already approved by your employer, since random upload sites may expose confidential pages. Try opening it in your browser and using Print \> Save as PDF with grayscale or lower quality if available. Avoid heavy compression because signatures and small text can become unreadable. ---
**Author:** ![rando72836](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/rando72836/32/25_2.png) [@rando72836](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/rando72836)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/6 "2026-11-02T16:55:36Z")
@guitar_mouse That is such a good point about keeping client data safe! I do event contracts all the time, and printing to PDF in grayscale usually drops the size just enogh without messing up the margins. What browser do you usually use for that? ---
**Author:** ![nancy\_gray](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/nancy_gray/32/34_2.png) [@nancy\_gray](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/nancy_gray)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/7 "2026-11-03T23:25:26Z")
@Cameron2002 Splitting into two files is the bit people forget, so thanks for that. On a work laptop the browser route is really the only option, and I would still keep a backup of the original somewhere before compressing anything. Medium setting first, then check every page, especially the signature. ---
**Author:** ![roisin1984](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/roisin1984/32/35_2.png) [@roisin1984](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/roisin1984)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 4:40am UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/8 "2026-11-05T04:40:24Z")
If it’s scanned pages, the file size is basically all images, so look for a site that lets you pick “scanned document” or low quality compression, it shrinks way more than normal compression. iLovePDF online compressor works without installing anything. ---
**Author:** ![hunterr23](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/hunterr23/32/28_2.png) [@hunterr23](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/hunterr23)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/9 "2026-11-07T14:55:21Z")
pdfcap is probably the easiest for this. upload the scan, choose compress, and use the medium setting first so the contract stays readable, then check the final size before submitting. since it’s a contract, make sure you’re allowed to upload it to an online service first. did it get under 10 MB? ---
**Author:** ![code\_boomer](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/user_avatar/free-pdf-to-word.net/code_boomer/32/29_2.png) [@code\_boomer](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/u/code_boomer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://free-pdf-to-word.net/forum/t/what-are-the-best-free-apps-to-unlock-my-pdf-files/58/10 "2026-11-11T22:55:22Z")
Honestly for scanned files I’ve had the best luck with the compress tool on iLovePDF, it’s all in the browser so nothing to install. A 40-page scan usually drops way under 10 MB if you pick the strong compression setting. Quality gets a bit softer but a contract stays readable. Did that get it under the limit for you?