How to Make PDF Read Only & Non-Editable in a Few Steps?

Written By Tej Pratap Shukla

Approved By Anuraag Singh

Published On December 3rd, 2024

Reading Time 9 Minutes Reading

PDFs make passing data or documents easier or effortless in this information age. It allows receivers to forward, print, copy, and even archive the PDF without inconvenience. Sometimes these documents contain sensitive or highly confidential data, and users search for how to make PDF read only and non-editable documents to stop vulnerabilities or breaches of document integrity. Now, follow this guide to learn how to create read only PDF using the best ways.

Why Make PDF Read Only and Non- Editable Document?

PDF documents are more like workmates and are widely used in different industries including the business sector, government, healthcare, education, and more. In several instances, the documents hold sensitive content that might be stolen and trigger detrimental or major loss. Some of the bad consequences are damage to reputation, decreased customer credibility, data compromise, etc.

To control these security flaws or loopholes of data loss, the use of PDF read-only protection becomes essential. This type of restriction is commonly popular as “copy protection” or “editing prohibition”. In this way, the viewer can only access the information to read. Moreover, it prevents them from “forward, copying, editing, modifying, printing, repurposing, and damaging the PDF content”.

Here are the common benefits to convert PDF to read only and non-editable documents:

Say Not to Copy Content: Creating a read-only document prevents viewers from copying, editing, or misleading the content. It ensures document creators protect the file integrity including the sensitivity and metadata of the PDF.
Improves PDF Security: Using strong PDF read-only protection stops unwanted or unauthorized actors from spreading the wrong information. This kind of security helps to reduce the risk of data leakage and modification.
Follow the Law and Compliances: Some industries deal with sensitive data, so here comes the need to make PDF read-only. Moreover, these restrictions comply with law standards like HIPAA and DRM rights.

Overall, creating uneditable PDFs is considered a preventive action for securing the document from misuse or any data compromise. Hence, it is a beneficial step for document creators to ensure data remains unchanged or tamper-proof.

Who Uses Read-Only Restriction in PDF?

To secure the PDF content from any illegal distribution or accessibility, many professionals or industries use read-only protection. Here are some of the common cases:

Financial Reports: In any sector, financial reports hold highly confidential data related to the company. If stolen, it can impact on the reputation and integrity of the organization. Here using read-only or non-editable prohibition is unable to make any changes.

Government Sector: The public administration or government sectors share policies, survey reports, contracts, and other necessary guidance. Here using the read-only protection allows them to eliminate the risk of data modification.

Healthcare Industry: Healthcare or insurance companies share and receive sensitive reports or patient histories that comply with security or privacy standards like HIPAA. To secure these documents, it is necessary to enable read-only protection on PDF files.

PDF with read-only protection helps to maintain document security and prevent unauthorized changes. Additionally, it depends on the nature of PDF where professionals or industries enable such permissions to ensure data protection.

How to Make PDF Read Only File: 3 Easy Methods

Previously, we have shared the common reasons to make PDF read-only. Here, we will discuss the best ways for converting the document into a non-editable file. In this way, nobody can get the right to change the data without legitimate permissions. This helps to mitigate the chances of unwanted modification or stealing of content for repurposing.

Here’s how to create non editable PDF document:

1. Microsoft Word to save PDF file to read only
2. Online PDF Tools to make PDFs not editable
3. Adobe Acrobat Pro software for converting PDF into non-editable file
4. SysTools PDF Non Editable Tool to make PDF read-only document

Now, let’s talk closely about these methods.

#1 How to Make PDF Non Editable Using Microsoft Word

If you’re wondering how to make a PDF read only or non-editable document, use Microsoft Word. It is one of the basic methods to try when it comes to adding restrictions on documents. Remember, it is not an ideal or dedicated tool for converting the PDF into a read-only file instead you can use it just for minimal editing prohibition.

Here is the stepwise guide for how to make a PDF uneditable using Word:

Open the PDF with Word ( edition 2013 or latest).
Move to Review action > select Restrict Editing.
Under “Allow only this type of editing in the file” > choose No Changes.
Set the strong Password > confirm “Yes, Start Enforcing Protection”.
Lastly, look for File > Save As > PDF.

Unfortunately, it is not an effective way to save the PDF as a read-only document. Anonymous actors can use dedicated tools like strongly encrypted PDF password remover to remove these kinds of permissions.

Limitation: There are several drawbacks to using Word for converting PDF into read-only files. This solution is prone to formatting errors or causes issues if PDF has complex elements such as images and unsupported fonts. Additionally, it is not a trustworthy solution as it may allow users to edit, copy, or print the restricted document. So, we suggest you choose an advanced or specialized tool for creating read-only PDFs.

#2 How to Make PDF Read Only With Online Software

Since Word is not a reliable solution for making PDFs read-only documents. Here comes the need for online tools like iLovePDF, Sejda, etc. These are freeware and dedicated software solutions where you can save PDF as non-editable or view-only documents. Using these tools, you can convert the whole document into an unselectable and non-copyable file.

Here are the steps for how to make PDF non editable:

On your web, search for any of these online services.
In the welcome interface, look for Choose Files.
After uploading the file, you can choose the Flatten option.
Lastly, download the Flatten document i.e. image-based file.

Online tools only help for converting PDFs into non-editable or flattened documents. The major drawback of this tool is that viewers can use other OCR tools to access the flattened text into copyable or printable PDF files. Now, move to read the other limitations of these online services.

Limitations: To convert PDF to read only, online tools aren’t an effective solution. Moreover, it holds the risk of confidential data. Most importantly, these tools are capable of extracting data from your confidential document. Hence, it works against the protocol of privacy and security standards. Additionally, it can cause formatting issues after saving the file.

#3 How to Make a PDF Read Only Document with Adobe Acrobat Pro Tool

To convert PDF to read only, use Adobe Acrobat Pro which is one of the most advanced and powerful tool for restricting actions like editing, content copying, printing, and extracting the pages. It leverages users to convert the data into view-only status. In this way, the document creator can control the accessibility and originality of the file.

Moreover, it is considered the go-to solution for preventing unauthorized access to PDF content. Here are the quick steps for how to make PDF read-only no copy using Adobe Acrobat Pro tool:

To make PDF read only Mac or Windows, open the Acrobat Pro tool.
Go to Properties, and then, choose Security > Password Security.
After this, set the document password or permissions > OK.
Lastly, save the read-only or non-editable PDF on your system.

Remember: Adobe Acrobat is a costly solution compared to other services. The monthly subscription plan of this tool starts from $24/month. Sometimes users get confused due to the advanced features of this software. So, move down to know the best way to make read-only PDF document.

#4 How to Make PDF Read Only and Non-Editable PDF – SysTools PDF Locking Tool

If you’re looking for a secure and trustworthy approach for converting PDF into a non-editable document, choose SysTool PDF Lock Software. It is one of the top-notch and highly recommended tool to save the read-only document.

Moreover, this is an amazing software that supports all kinds of security or restrictions. Using this robust tool, you can add multiple permissions like editing, copying, extracting pages, printing, etc, on your document to prevent the chances of data loss or modification.

Most importantly, this tool allows you to add strong encryption standards like AES 245-bit. In this way, you can access the read-only PDF document to secure confidential information with ease. Now, download this pro utility on your Windows OS.

Free Download Purchase Now

Steps for How to Create Non Editable PDF

Download the SysTools PDF locking tool.
Choose options: Add Files or Add Folders.
Go to the Change option and then, press Next.
Under Apply Document Restriction > choose permissions.
Here, you can add password or encryption type.
Lastly, press the Lock button to make PDF read-only file.

It is a convenient and hassle-free solution for converting multiple PDFs into read-only documents. Here are the common benefits of this tool:

Restrict modifications – editing, printing, repurposing, etc.
Stop PDF text copying and pasting to another document.
Preserve the original formatting of the PDF text.

Important Tips to Keep in Mind When Making PDF Non-Editable

Users should keep in mind the below tips when making PDFs read-only:

Use strong, unique passwords for your PDFs.
Set high encryption method using SysTools software.
Share the password only with trusted individuals.

Concluding Words

In this guide, we have shared how to make PDF read only and non-editable documents. Using the above methods, you can secure your digital document from data breaches and other potential risk factors. Here, we recommend you choose the SysTools PDF locking tool, one of the most powerful and cost-effective solutions compared to Acrobat and online tools.

By Tej Pratap Shukla

A versatile technocrat, always in the search for new and interesting areas related to technology. Works on multiple technical problems faced by users frequently. Provides the user-friendly solutions to deal with numerous technical issues.

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