Decrypt PDF

Removes password protection from PDF files by trying a list of passwords.

Overview

The Decrypt PDF node unlocks password-protected PDFs so downstream nodes can process them. You provide a list of passwords; the node tries each one until the PDF opens, then saves an unencrypted copy to the file destination.

Files that don't need decryption pass through unchanged:

• Unencrypted PDFs are passed through as-is (they are not copied to the File Destination)
• Non-PDF files are passed through as-is

Use it to:

• Unlock password-protected bank statements, payroll reports, or tax documents
• Prepare protected PDFs for OCR, data extraction, or other PDF tools
• Handle mixed file streams where only some PDFs are protected

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Required
File	PDF file to decrypt (supports expressions)	Yes
Passwords	Passwords to try when unlocking the PDF	No
File Destination	Where to save the decrypted PDF	Yes

Passwords

Add any number of passwords — the node tries each one in order until the PDF unlocks. The empty password is always tried first automatically, since some PDFs restrict editing but open without a password.

Settings

Setting	Description
Execution Mode	Once per item (default) or Once
Output Mode	How to output results when running once
Batch Size	Items to process concurrently (default 5)
Stop on Error	Stop workflow on failure

Output

{
  "file": {
    "type": "fileData",
    "name": "statement.pdf",
    "mimeType": "application/pdf",
    "fileInfo": { "type": "..." }
  }
}

Access in expressions:

• File object: {{$item.data.file}}

Errors

If none of the provided passwords unlock a PDF, the file is sent to the node's error output and the run is marked as completed with errors. Connect an Error Catcher node to handle these files.

Examples

Unlock Statements Before Extraction

[Lido Mailbox Trigger] → [Split (attachments)] → [Decrypt PDF] → [Data Extractor] → [Insert Rows]

Decrypt and Archive

[Google Drive Trigger] → [Decrypt PDF] → [Copy File (unlocked folder)]

Tips

• The decrypted copy keeps the original file name, so point the file destination at a different folder from the source unless you intend to write alongside the original
• Unencrypted PDFs and non-PDF files flow through untouched, so the node is safe to place in mixed file streams
• Passwords are stored in the workflow definition — only add passwords you're comfortable sharing with workflow collaborators