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.

Table of Contents:

• PDF Restrictions & Reasons to Remove Them
• Method 1 – Adobe Acrobat DC
• Method 2 – Google Chrome
• Method 3 – Microsoft Edge
• Method 4 – Professional Utility
• All Methods Table Comparison
• Bringing It All Together

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.

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:

• Put restrictions on PDF files
• Remove PDF restrictions

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.
2. Once the restricted PDF file is opened, users can right-click anywhere on the file and select Properties/Document Properties.
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.
   2. The user will be asked to input the restrictions password. Enter it and click OK to remove all PDF restrictions.
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.
   2. The user will then be prompted to input the restrictions password. Enter it and click OK.
   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.
   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.

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.

Make sure to opt for the free demo version to see how the tool works. This free version will remove all restrictions from the PDF documents but will display a watermark on the processed files.

Step 1. First, download and install the full version of the product according to the system OS (Windows or Mac).

Step 2. Now, launch the software and click on the Add File button to import the restricted PDF documents.

Step 3. Then, select the PDF files and click on the Open button.

Step 4. Once you import the files, select the desired location where to save the unrestricted PDF documents. Do note that the software does not make any changes to the restricted PDF itself, but copies the file, removes PDF restrictions, and provides the new file to its users.

Step 5. After that, click on the Unlock button. The tool will remove all restrictions from the PDF.

Comparing the Four Methods

There are two types of passwords in PDF files:

1. One is open password where users need to enter a password to open the file.
2. Another is restrictions password where users can open the file without any issues, but certain restrictions are applied to it to prevent actions.

The concerned users must make sure that if the PDF has an open password, then they must have it to access the file. If the file has no such password but only restrictions, then no worries, they can go ahead with the solutions.

With this out of the way, let us compare the four methods to remove PDF document restrictions:

Features	Adobe	Chrome	Edge	SysTools
Removes all restrictions	Yes	Yes(Other than Print)	Yes(Other than Print)	Yes
Requires restriction password	Yes	No	No	No
If Print is restricted in the document	Works	Doesn’t work	Doesn’t work	Works
Batch process multiple PDFs	No	No	No	Yes
Pricing structure	Monthly Subscription	Free	Free	One-time fee

Also Read: Know-How to Remove Permissions from PDF File Easily?

Bringing It All Together

PDF format plays an important role in the digital documents arena. And although its security is one of its plus features, sometimes it gets in the way of work. To fully utilize the ability of PDF documents, it is essential to remove restrictions from PDF. With the methods available in this guide, users can easily remove PDF document restrictions with and without a password. So, go ahead and choose the method as per requirements.