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How to Remove PDF Restrictions from Document – 4 Easy Ways

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Written By Mohit Jha
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh  
Published On September 23rd, 2024
Reading Time 9 Minutes Reading

Many of you use restrictions on PDF documents, making them a private file to limit accessibility. If those encrypted passwords are not needed anymore, you must be looking for how to remove PDF restrictions from the document. Luckily, in this guide, we will share the freeware and automated solution i.e. SysTools PDF restriction remover to unrestrict a PDF file.

What are PDF Restrictions?

PDF restrictions are considered security measures applied to PDF documents to control the action. It lets the owner decide what users can do and cannot with the shared PDF files. Moreover, these restrictions contain password encryption and digital rights management settings to prevent data modification and tampering.

Here are the most common types of restrictions on PDFs controlled by owners:

Password Protection of File: If the PDF file is password protected, it requires correct passkeys to open or view the document. In the absence of a password, you can’t open or read the file.

Editing/ Omitting Restriction: This restriction on documents doesn’t allow users to edit or omit content. In this way, you can’t modify and add unwanted annotations over the text within the PDF document.

Copy Restriction: This is yet another major restriction used by owners to limit copying the content, images, and other necessary information. With this, you will only read or analyze the data.

Print Restriction: If this restriction is enabled, you can’t print the PDF document even in the low quality. With this, you can view the information without printing or copying the text from the PDF.

Sign or Form Filling Restrictions: Unlike others, this restriction is quite different. Here, users can’t fill in or sign on the digital document. Hence, you can only preview the information without performing any modification.

Page Extraction Restrictions: This is an essential restriction enforced by owners to ensure that no one can extract pages from the PDF document. In this way, anyone can secure the document, making it a private file.

Overall, these are six different restrictions that can be used over PDF documents. With this, you can prevent unauthorized actions like copying, editing, printing, etc of the PDF file.

Why Do We Unrestrict PDFs?

Now, the question is why remove PDF restrictions from the document, here are the reasons:

  • If the restriction is no longer needed, removing it is the ultimate choice to ensure easy accessibility of PDF content or text.
  • Once you remove PDF document restrictions, legitimate users can easily edit, copy, and print the file, making it an error-free and updated file.
  • The unrestricted PDF document enables users to easily collaborate allowing them to comment and add digital signatures.
  • If you remove restrictions from PDF, you can easily manage and share a wide range of documents with ease.

Now, you are aware with the benefits of remove restrictions on PDF documents. If you’re wondering how to remove document restrictions in PDF, move down to learn the steps guidance.

How to Remove PDF Restrictions – Best 4 Ways

Here, we reach to know the methods to remove PDF document restrictions. By following these techniques, you can unrestrict your PDF files in bulk mode. Moreover, these methods are secure and reliable for removing or changing the restriction from PDF files. Here are the top 4 ways for how to change document restrictions in PDF:

  1. Adobe Acrobat to Edit the Restriction from Document
  2. Google Chrome to Change PDF Restriction
  3. Unrestrict PDF Using the Microsoft Edge
  4. Try the Automated PDF Restriction Remover Tool

Now, let’s dive into these methods for PDF remove security restrictions to access documents without any passwords and challenges.

How to Remove Document Restrictions in PDF – Use Pro Adobe Acrobat Tool

The pro Adobe Acrobat DC is premium and professional software designed for modifying or remove permission from PDF file. It lets you edit, print, and most importantly, share PDF documents without any restrictions. In this way, you can make your PDF file editable, allowing users to add comments, omit, or edit the text at once. Now, follow the stepwise guide for How to remove PDF restrictions using Acrobat DC:

1. Open the restricted PDF file with Acrobat.
2. Move to File > Open Menu to add the file.
tap on open option
3. Once the file is opened, perform right-click > select Document Properties.
click on document properties
4. If you wish to remove all restrictions from the PDF document, follow the below steps:

  • Move to Security Tab > enable No Security.
    select the no security option
  • Now, you will be asked to enter the password > add password > Ok.
  • If you want to change a few restrictions then, here’s how to do it:

5. In the Properties dialog box, tab on the Security option > Change Settings.
click on change settings

  • Now, input the password and press OK.
  • After this, users can remove certain restrictions > enter the password again.
  • Lastly, enter the OK button.

6. In this way, you can remove PDF restrictions from any document.

Remember: The services of Acrobat are mainly divided into standard or pro subscription plans. Both plans have different features, especially the Acrobat Pro tool which comes with robust features. Unfortunately, the monthly subscription plans are costly yet hurt your pocket in the long run. Therefore, we don’t recommend this solution for professionals who have large PDF documents to change the restrictions.

How to Remove Document Restrictions in PDF Using Google Chrome

Google Chrome is another handy way to change the restriction from the PDF document. It lets you unrestrict your PDFs without any data loss or modification over the data. Here’s how to how to change document restrictions in PDF:

  1. Open the restricted PDF > right-click and Open with Chrome.
  2. From the top-right options, tab three dots to open the menu.
  3. Click on Print from the display menu.
  4. From the Print window, tap on Save as PDF and choose Destination.
  5. Lastly, press the Save button to archive your PDF file without restrictions.
Point to Remember: In this method, the “Print” option is a savior. If the owner enabled the print restrictions, you can’t use this solution to save PDFs without any restriction. Additionally, you can’t remove restrictions in bulk mode. So, use this method if you have time for manual labor and efforts.

How to Unrestrict a PDF Document with Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge has another way to remove document restrictions at once. Here are how to do it:

  1. Open the restricted PDF using Microsoft Edge.
  2. Tab on Print icon > select Microsoft Print to PDF.
  3. Lastly, click on Print to save the .pdf file without protection.
Please Note: This method needs the Print command. If the print icon is greyed out due to print restriction, you can’t use this option to access the data with no challenges. However, this method is not recommended if you have a large volume of data.

Try SysTools PDF Restriction Remover to Remove PDF Restrictions from the Document File

To batch remove restrictions from Adobe PDF, use SysTools PDF Unlocker Tool, one of the best and most advanced PDF restriction remover software. This is a robust and all-in-one tool to remove unwanted restrictions from the document file. Using this proficient solution, you can easily modify Adobe PDF restrictions like printing, copying, page extraction, and even editing.

The core feature of this software includes a dual file option to add a file or folder to change the settings from a PDF document. To install this software, you don’t need to download or take a subscription to Adobe Acrobat software.

Moreover, it is a one-time investment that helps you to edit restrictions from your document. Additionally, this software is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS, download to remove all restrictions of your PDF document.

Steps to Remove PDF Document Restrictions

  1. Download the SysTools PDF Restriction Remover tool.
  2. Tab on Add Files to upload Adobe PDF file.
    click on add files
  3. Click on the Save button to secure the document.
    select Save option
  4. Move to Change to browse the location of the resultant file.
    click on change button
  5. Lastly, click on Unlock to save the PDF without any restriction.

Comparing the Four Methods for Removing the Restriction from Document

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

Why Choose SysTools PDF Restriction Remover Tool

PDF Restriction Removal Tool: It is a powerful and advanced software specially designed to unlock PDF documents from different types of owner restrictions, making the PDFs free for edit and print.

Automated and Handy Software: This software is completely handy and portable. It has a simple and intuitive interface. In this way, you can easily use this tool without facing any challenges.

Data Protection and Privacy: The SysTools pro software has a built-in feature to protect data, ensuring data privacy and security. Moreover, it adheres to following all the standards for maintaining the folder structure.

Concluding Words

In this guide, we have shared the 4 different ways to remove PDF restrictions. By following these methods, you can easily unlock restrictions from the document, making it easy to access and editable at once. Instead of choosing the manual solutions, we recommend you choose SysTools pro solution to securely unlock all the PDF restrictions, gaining full control over the text or content.

  author

By Mohit Jha

Mohit is a Microsoft Certified expert known for his cloud migration, cyber security, and digital forensics expertise. He specializes in Microsoft 365, Exchange Server, and Azure AD migration, ensuring seamless transitions for organizations worldwide. His multifaceted role as a meticulous tech writer, diligent researcher, and astute editor underscores his commitment to delivering cutting-edge digital forensics and cloud migration strategies.