How to Disable Printing of PDF Documents – Three Simple Methods
PDF files are the go-to standard documents for sharing data. They are easy to view and do not distort the formatting in different operating systems. But what if the user wants to disable printing of PDF file? It may be a confidential report, an e-book, or carry sensitive document. Regardless of the reasons, if the user wants to prevent someone from printing a PDF file, then simply read this article.
Here, users can explore various methods to prevent PDF printing without any hassle.
Table of Contents:
What is the Need to Prevent Printing a PDF File?
There are several reasons to lock the printing ability in a PDF document. The most important ones are given below:
- Confidential PDF – PDF files often carry sensitive information that a user needs to share but prevent its printing. Doing so ensures that the information is only for reading purposes.
- Distribution Control – Sometimes, users want to distribute a PDF document digitally while maintaining control over its distribution. Disabling PDF printing helps achieve this by limiting how the document can be used.
- Copyright – An author or content creator wants to share his work in PDF format. To protect his copyright property, he can disable the printing option in his documents.
Quick & Easy Methods to Disable Printing of PDF File
There are several methods to disable the printing of a PDF file. Users can choose them based on their needs. Here are three effective ways:
Method 1 – Prevent Printing a PDF Document in Adobe
The official file reader and editor for the PDF format is Adobe. After all, it is the creator of the format. Users can find various security features and functions in Adobe Acrobat. One of them is the ability to disable printing of a PDF file. The process is simple and easy to follow as long as the user has the paid version of Adobe Acrobat DC.
Do note that Adobe Reader is a free application meant for reading PDF files only. It does not provide any means to protect PDF documents with a password.
Here is the process to disable printing in Adobe Acrobat DC:
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Firstly, open Adobe Acrobat DC.
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Then, go to the File menu and click on the Open option.
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Now, navigate to the PDF file that users want to disable the printing feature on and open it.
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After that, right-click on the file and select Document Properties.
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Go to the Security tab in the Document Properties window.
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Here, select Password security in the Security method dropdown list.
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Now, set restrictions for printing under the Permissions section.
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Choose None in Printing Allowed option to disable printing of PDF document.
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The other setting is to prevent editing of a PDF file, so use it as per choice.
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Then, enter a password and click OK.
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Click OK on the Adobe Acrobat prompt, if it appears.
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Now, re-enter the password to confirm the changes.
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Keep clicking OK on further windows and prompts and finally Save the PDF file.
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To verify the changes, simply view the Document Properties. Here, the printing restrictions section will show that PDF Printing is disabled.
Method 2 – Disable Printing of PDF File with SysTools
The best method to prevent printing of PDF file is with the help of SysTools PDF Password Locker Tool. It is a user-friendly software that allows users to disable printing of PDF files within few clicks. The best part of this tool is that it allows the user to set the printing restriction on the PDF file without changing the other settings. It works similarly to Adobe Acrobat but focuses solely on the security of PDF files.
This software is available for one-time purchase and is easy on the pocket. Plus, users can apply restrictions on PDF files in bulk. That’s why, many PDF users prefer this tool over Adobe Acrobat to disable print option in PDF documents.
Here is the process to prevent PDF printing without Adobe:
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Download and install the tool on your Windows PC.
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Launch the software and click Add File to select PDF files.
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Import multiple PDF files that users want to protect from printing.
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Go to the next window and choose Not Allowed in the Printing option.
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Set other restrictions as per the requirements.
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Enter a password for added security.
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Click the Lock button to disable print option in all PDF files.
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Finally, open the new PDF file to check that it is print-protected.
Advanced – How to Prevent Printing of PDF Certain Number of Pages
For more advanced control, users can use Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions like Locklizard. It limits the number of pages that can be printed in a PDF. This approach allows a user to specify how many pages can be printed, making it suitable for distributing limited-use documents.
Conclusion
In a world where information flows freely, it’s crucial to have tools and methods to control how PDF documents are used. Disabling printing in PDF is necessary to safeguard confidential data, protect content, or simply have more control over its distribution. With the methods outlined above, users can easily prevent someone from printing a PDF file. Users can choose a method that works best for them.