PDFs send for work, get from customers, download online...... When you try to edit it, or add annotations to it, you get warnings like: This file has been opened read-only to prevent modification.
With this read only restriction, whenever we try to edit a PDF we found all the annotation tools are grayed and un-clickable. So, How to edit a read-only PDF? Can I print it?
In this guide we’ll show you why PDF is read-only and how to edit read-only PDF on Windows, Mac and mobile devices.
Cisdem PDFMaster
Free Download macOS 11 or later 
Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
PDF can be read-only for various reasons, the most common of which are as follows:
Based on the above situations, you may puzzled about how to edit a read-only PDF once for all, we need tools that can edit PDF files directly, convert PDF to editable formats like Word, Supports removing password, and a tools that comes with OCR to handle scanned or image PDFs.
Thankfully, Cisdem PDFMaster ends all your worries about read-only PDF. No matter your non-editable PDF is scanned or password protected, this app can resolve it without any difficulties. It comes with five powerful features: PDF Convert, PDF Create, PDF Compress, PDF Encrypt and PDF Decrypt. Each of them supports processing in bulk and provides lots of advanced settings.
As a PDF editor, Cisdem PDFMaster is best at editing content in PDF, with a range of amazing editing features. For instance, it is quite easy to edit the existing text, change its font size, color and style; Also, you have much freedom to add new text and images in the program.
To tell how well this app lives up to the promise, take an in-depth look below.
Download and install Cisdem PDFMaster on your computer.
Free Download macOS 11 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
Earlier than macOS 11, click here
Cisdem PDFMaster is the PDF editing software that I use most frequently. I choose this app as it has no advertisements, no pop-ups, and has an office like interface, which gives me a really comfortable feeling.
It has a full set of PDF editing features that one may need in daily work. Such as PDF printing, text editing, form filling, image editing, annotation, stamps, watermarks, PDF pages managing, etc. It basically meets all the needs for PDF editing.
As it basically follows the format of Word, even novices who have never used it before can quickly become familiar with the operation.
Click Open files to load the read only PDF file, click Edit PDF you can directly edit text and images in the PDF. In fact, with this PDF editor everything including pages, backgrounds, watermarks, page numbers, forms, metadata, can be freely changed, moved, deleted, and edited.
If you need to annotate the PDF file, it also has all the necessary reading and annotation functions, such as text highlighting, strikethrough, underline, comments, stamps, drawing with a pen, etc.
Most of the time PDF is read only because of property setting, Some native tools on Windows and Mac will try to protect the documents by turning on the read-only mode in file properties.
In this case, the most straight forward way is to ask the owner and requesting permission to edit the read-only PDF. Or you can open the PDF file in adobe acrobat and click the enable editing button.
If you don’t subscribed to Adobe Acrobat, then try to edit the read only PDF as follows:
When it comes to pro-grade PDF editing, Adobe Acrobat has long been a top priority in the business for Windows and Mac users. It is an authentic and secure solution that helps you convert a read-only PDF to edit without data loss. However, the subscription fee, at US$19.99 per month(yearly) for the professional version, is prohibitively expensive for many people. If you have installed Adobe Acrobat and subscribed to it before, head over to the following guide.
Microsoft Office is unarguably the best office suite for individuals and business, available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Signing in with the same account on computers, you can continue viewing and editing the cloud documents synced from mobile services(iPhone, Android, and other tablet devices), which helps you work more efficiently from anywhere.
Google Docs is an online productivity software similar to Microsoft Office that can process and search documents, tables, and slides and also be shared with others over the Web, with a Google account. The secret to editing a read-only PDF with Google Docs lies in its ability to automatically convert PDF to Word.
Sejda offers an instant online service packed with the same features as its offline service, like converting PDF to various formats with retaining the original formatting, merging and compressing PDF documents in a high quality. Since it's accessed through a web browser, you can use it through all kinds of devices or platforms where you can run a browser, which exempts all the concerns caused by the curtailing performance of your devices.
If the non-editable symptom is caused by password protection, go to Sejda Online PDF editor and upload the password-protected PDF file. Then you can edit the PDF directly with permission password automatically failing to prohibit unauthorized changes.
For another case, if the read-only PDF is essentially an image or a scan, neither of which contain directly editable text, then you can recognize text with OCR and convert PDF scans to searchable PDF documents.
How to easily edit read-only PDF files? This article provides a detailed introduction to 6 reliable methods. Cisdem PDFMaster is the best answer for how to edit read only PDF for Mac and Windows. It support all kinds of PDF read only situations, doing an excellent job of converting PDF (or scanned PDF/images) into editable files quickly, editing PDF and decrypting encrypted files with ease. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Even the free trail version helps a lot. With this method, you don’t have to upload your PDF file, so your privacy is 100% protected. Professional support is available, along with free updates for a lifetime.
Of course, if you only have relatively simple requirements for PDF files occasionally, using the online tool or Google Docs is also sufficient.
Free Download macOS 11 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
Earlier than macOS 11, click here
Bianca is a senior tech editor and strategist at Cisdem with Over 10 years of experience on PDF related solutions which covers all document editing, annotating, converting and managing etc.
