Edit secure PDF

Have you tried to modify the content of a PDF document but the program you usually use to perform this kind of operations has prevented you from doing it because the selected file includes restrictions that prevent it from being edited and printed? No problem.

Thanks to a convenient free online service, you can remove all protections from the document and modify it as you prefer using one of the many applications suitable for the purpose. Do not you believe it? Then read the instructions on how to edit a protected PDF that I am about to give you and try to put them into practice. You will be surprised how easy it is!

To find out how to edit a secure PDF you must first remove the protection against editing and printing present in the document you intend to edit. For this purpose, I recommend you to use Unlock PDF , a free online service that allows you to remove all protections from PDF files with just one click and without installing programs on your computer.

Then connect to its main page and click first on the Browse / Choose file button to select the document to unlock and then on Unlock file to download the version of the file without limitations on your computer. Also make sure there is a check mark next to I agree to the Terms of Service below , otherwise the file will not be processed.

I remind you that Unlock PDF, as well as all similar services, is able to remove only the protections that prevent the modification and printing of PDF documents, not the passwords that prohibit consulting the contents of the files. In those cases, the only solution is to force the keyword with the brute force technique, as I explained to you in my guide on how to unprotect a PDF with password .

Once the protections have been removed from the document, you can edit a protected PDF with any program suitable for the purpose. If you use a Windows PC, for example, I recommend using Nitro Reader which combines its potential as a PDF file reader with advanced editing functions. It offers the possibility to insert writings, signatures, copy and highlight texts in an extremely simple way. I explained how to use it in great detail in my tutorial on how to edit a PDF .

Do you use a Mac ? Then know that you don’t need to download any additional application to effectively edit PDF documents unlocked by Unlock PDF. All you need is Preview , the photo and PDF viewing app included “standard” in OS X. If you want to learn how to make the most of it to edit the content of your documents, check out my guide on how to edit a PDF on Mac .

Finally, I remind you that using the free alternative to Microsoft Office, LibreOffice , you can freely edit any PDF (even those protected against modification and printing) by adding writings, images and other elements within the documents. I told you how in my article on how to write to a PDF file . The program is available not only for Windows but also for Mac OS X and Linux.