How to Remove PDF Document Restrictions in 2024 – Latest Methods Explained

This is an age where viewing, editing, and sharing of digital documents is at its peak. We all use PDF files to share information with our colleagues, business partners, and friends. However, there are times when the said PDF documents contain restrictions. It limits the users from taking certain actions on the document. In this article, we will discuss what are PDF restrictions, their types, and the latest methods to remove PDF document restrictions on your PC. So, without further ado, let us start.

What are PDF Restrictions? Why Do We Remove Them?

Restrictions are security measures applied to PDF documents to control the actions of the users. It helps the owner decide what users can and cannot do with the document. These restrictions include the ability to copy, edit, and print the PDF file. Within them lies more complex restrictions like the ability to add comments, annotations, extract content, document assembly, and more.

list of pdf document restrictions

Although these restrictions safeguard the PDF file, there are times when they are too much. Some users need to do certain actions on the document, but the restrictions don’t allow it. By removing restrictions from a PDF file, users can get complete access to the documents. Whether it’s printing, editing, copying the content, commenting, or other tasks, users can do it all. This is the reason why a user needs to remove PDF restrictions.

How to Remove PDF Document Restrictions Using Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat DC is a robust and widely used PDF editor. It offers a method to change PDF restrictions. Using it, users can do both tasks:

Here, we will focus on the second task i.e., getting rid of the PDF restrictions. In the following steps, we will show you how to do it in Adobe Acrobat DC.

  1. The first step is to open the PDF file that has restrictions in Adobe Acrobat DC. Users can do this by opening Adobe and going to File > Open menu. Or they can directly open the file in Adobe if Adobe is set as the default PDF viewer.open pdf file in adobe
  2. Once the restricted PDF file is opened, users can right-click anywhere on the file and select Properties/Document Properties.select document properties in pdf
  3. Now, depending on what exactly the user wants to do, the steps will vary.
  4. If the user wants to remove all PDF document restrictions, then do the following:
    1. In the Properties dialog box, go to the Security tab and select No Security from the drop-down list.select no security
    2. The user will be asked to input the restrictions password. Enter it and click OK to remove all PDF restrictions.enter the restrictions password
  5. If the user wants to change PDF restrictions or remove only certain restricted actions, then do the following:
    1. In the Properties dialog box, go to the Security tab and click on the Change Settings button.click on change settings
    2. The user will then be prompted to input the restrictions password. Enter it and click OK.enter the restrictions password
    3. Now, the user can select certain restrictions to be removed from the list. The user must enter the password again in the given box.change pdf restrictions
    4. Once done, click OK to close the tabs one at a time.
  6. Finally, save the PDF document to ensure that you have saved the PDF security settings.save the pdf file

How to Remove Restrictions From PDF Google Chrome

Google Chrome provides a convenient way to remove PDF document restrictions directly from your browser:

  1. Open the restricted PDF document in Google Chrome. Users can do this by going to the PDF document, right-clicking it, and selecting the Open with > Chrome option.
  2. At the top-right corner, click on the three dots to open the menu.
  3. Select Print from the menu. If the Print icon is displayed on the screen itself, users can directly click on it.
  4. In the Print window, choose Save as PDF from the Destination section.
  5. Click the Save button to save the PDF without restrictions.

Note: Please note that this method requires the use of the Print option. So, if the PDF document has the Print restriction, then the user cannot access the Print option. Thus, the above method is not applicable in such cases.

How to Remove PDF Restrictions with Edge

Microsoft Edge also offers a method to remove PDF restrictions online:

  1. Open the restricted PDF document in Microsoft Edge. To do this, users can right-click the PDF document and select Open with > Microsoft Edge.
  2. Once the file is open, click on the Print icon at the top-right corner to open the Print menu.
  3. In the Print window, choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer.
  4. Finally, click the Print button to save the PDF without restrictions.

Note: Please note that this method also requires the use of Print command. If this icon is greyed out then the document has the Print restriction. Thus, users cannot access this option in such cases.

Professional Utility to Remove PDF Document Restrictions

For a more comprehensive and efficient solution, you can utilize the SysTools PDF Unlocker tool. It is a professional utility that allows users to remove restrictions from PDF documents in a few simple steps. The tool is available for both Windows and Mac users. It is a user-friendly application that supports batch processing and can process multiple PDF files at a time.