How to Make PDF Non Editable – Solved

ome confidential information is not for sharing with anyone that’s why you need to make PDFs non editable or Password-protected. If you want to secure them, you can apply the restrictions without interruption by following the given methods. Different methods are described to make PDF read only. You can use any from the given. All of them will help you appropriately to solve your generated issue or problem. You also learn about two types of Security types of which are owner level and the second is user level.

Types of Restrictions Applied on Any PDF File

Owner level:- These are the restrictions to not allow users to copy, edit, or print PDF files. These are the particular restrictions. If the user applied only copy restriction, you cannot copy the text from the PDF but can do other activities. Somehow the owner allows or applies other restrictions then the user nor the owner can do that work. If you need to do then first you have to unrestrict secured PDF files.

User level:- These are also known as open password protection the owner applies these to open PDF files using a Password. This prevents unauthorised access to PDF files.

Methods to Make PDF Non Editable

There are different methods as we talked about earlier, and professionals gave them. Both are free methods to make PDF non editable easily. But both of them have different functionality according to their Facilities. You will see all the facilities and limitations of every method in this blog. You can follow any method manual or professional as your requirement.

Method 1. Method to Make PDF Non Editable Without Adobe

PDF lock Software is best to make PDFs non editable and to secure from unauthorised access or unwanted editing information present in the PDF files. Some confidential information is not for sharing with anyone. If you want to secure them, you can apply the restrictions without interruption with PDF Lock Software. It is very to use with its facilities.

It can add PDF files in bulk which will save you a large time.  The tool will easily apply open passwords or restrictions. You can change the destination location of your updated PDF file, where you need to place it. You can make PDF read only and also unrestrict the copying restriction if you need to do that. The encryption type according to your computer-supporting system can be selected. It provides a demo version which is free to use. It will provide you with a report of the process that you did. The demo shows how many files are present and how many are updated. You can stop the process of locking PDF files in the middle.

Facilities of the PDF Lock Software

1. It can add PDF files in bulk to lock them with protection and restrictions.
2. Changing of destination location of updated PDF files is present.
3. You can unrestrict the copying restriction if you need to do that.
4. You can select the encryption type according to your computer-supporting system.
5. The tool provides you a demo version which is free to use.
6. A stopping facility is present in this tool which makes the data usage familiar.
7. A report at the end of the process will be provided.
8. Provide live chat support on the official website, you can get answers from the experts according to your requirements.

Software Requirements

• It will not run at less than 4 GB RAM.
• Require Windows 10 and above.
• Your computer system must have 1 TB of Hard Disk memory.

Steps to Make PDF Non Editable by the Tool.

• Run the software on your computer System.
  (After completion of the Downloading and installing process)

• Add those PDF files on which restrictions and protections are not applied.

• Choose the saving or destination location of the updated PDF file, where you want to save and press the “Next” button.

• Add restrictions and protections according to your choice by applying or confirming the password.
  (You can enable copying text, images and other content and enable text access for screen reader devices for the visually impaired. You can keep the source PDF password for protected files.)

• Select the Encryption type of PDF file from Rc4*40 o128 and AES*128 or 256 to open and press the “Lock” button.
  (Rc4*128 is the standard encryption type, which supports all the computer systems.)

• You will get a Report at the end of the process of locking.

Note:- Now your PDF file is locked properly no one can access or take information without your permission or password. If this tool does not help you to make PDF files locked, you can use the advanced version of the Tool.

Method 2. Use WPS Office to Make PDF Read Only

This method is provided by WPS, it is a free manual method to make PDF non editable that can easily add protection to PDF files. You can use it for free for a lifetime. Its facilities and limitations you will see.

Follow the steps of this method to use.

Step 1. Select the PDF file on which you want to apply the restrictions or securities from the location where it is present.

Step 2. Go to “Protect” and then select the “Encrypt” option.

Step 3. Confirm the Open password and Protection password after selecting the protection criteria.

Step 4. Press the “Confirm” button to apply the restrictions.

Note:- Somehow you want to Convert secured PDF to Unsecured, you can unlock it by using PDF Unlocker Tool.

Method 3. Use Adobe Acrobat to Make PDF Non Editable

This method is provided by Adobe to make PDF Read only. It is the longest method to make PDF non editable because you have to follow some steps to use this method.

Generic Steps to Use the Adobe Acrobat Tool.

Step 1. Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat on which the restrictions have to apply.

Step 2. Go to the “Tools” button present on the screen of adobe.

Step 3. Select the “Protect” option from the dropdown which is opened by selecting the Tools menu.

Step 4. Select the restriction type that you want to apply. You can only apply the open password if you want to secure the PDF file from unauthorized access. If you want to apply only reactions you can do that job.

Step 5. Enter the password for two times that you want to apply and keep that in mind for a long time.

Step 6. Press the “OK” button to confirm the password which you entered.

Step 7. Save the PDF file by clicking on the “Save” button.

Note:- The manual methods take much more time to make PDF non editable as compared to the professional method. Manual methods can only lock one PDF file where the tool can do all the processes in bulk without any interruption. The manual method is good when you have 2 or 3 PDF files. Suppose you have PDF files in bulk and you want to make protected all of them then the professional method of usage tool is good.

Conclusion

This blog contains the solution to your problem “How to make PDF non editable”. Different types of methods are present to resolve the generated problem. In which manual and professional methods are present. All of them have their different facilities which make them differ from each other. You can follow any of them according to your requirement and need.

All methods are good as per the requirement of the user. If you have one or two PDF files to lock then you can use the manual method. If you have PDF files in bulk then you can select the professional method “without using the Acrobat” method for this purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do I make a PDF non editable in Preview?

Ans:- Open the Preview PDF or image on your Mac. Move the cursor next to the document and name in the title bar, click the arrow that appears, and then select or clear the Locked check box.

Q2. How do I lock a fillable PDF from editing?

Ans:- In the right menu, click on the purple shield icon “Protect”; if you don’t see this icon, select “More tools”, search for “Protect” and click “Add”

Q3. Why would a PDF be locked?

Ans:- If a PDF is locked using a digital ID or certificate, it’s locked to prevent changes to the document. Digital IDs or certificates used to sign PDFs are used for commercial and legal purposes and are governed by laws in many countries.

Q4. What is locked PDF format?

Ans:- Normally, when you save a document as a PDF, only the formatting remains intact. This means you can still copy and edit the content. However, you want to lock the PDF file so that it cannot be edited or copied for sharing or peer review.

Q5. How can you tell if a PDF is locked?

To view the security settings of a document, press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (macOS) in Acrobat or Acrobat Reader. In the Document Properties dialog box, select the Security tab. If you have trouble opening a PDF or you’re restricted from using certain features, contact the author of the PDF.