How to Edit a Read-only PDF Using 6 Free Methods

Read-only PDF files are subject to various restrictions, such as password protection, editing restrictions, or scanned content.

Luckily, this guide will introduce you to 6 free and effective ways to bypass restrictions and make a read-only PDF editable.

Convert Read-Only PDF to Editable PDF Online for Free

The simplest method to edit a PDF with editing restrictions is by converting it to Microsoft Word.

For this, you’ll need PDFgear online PDF to Word converter, which is free to use, and there’s no sign-up. It works on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, etc.

Step 1. Click Upload PDF file button above to open the read-only PDF.

Step 2. Download the converted Microsoft Word document.

Step 3. Open the downloaded Word > File > Save as > .pdf.

Bypass PDF Editing Restrictions

Cause: Sometimes, a PDF can be opened but not edited due to owner restrictions.

Solution: Using PDFgear software. PDFgear doesn’t support PDF owner passwords and allows users to edit existing text in PDF.

• Download and launch PDFgear software on your Windows or Mac computer.
• Tap Open File to open the read-only PDF.
• Move to Edit > Click Edit Text to instantly modify the content.

Using PDFgear is the best approach when your PDF has an owner password or editing restrictions applied but the PDF is not completely locked.

Remove PDF Password

Cause: If the PDF is protected by user password, you need to enter the password to edit the PDF, otherwise you cannot edit it.

Solution: Remove the password to gain editing permission. Use PDFgear PDF password remover, but it requires you to know the password of the PDF file.

• Visit the website of PDFgear Online Unlocker.
• Tap the Select PDF file button to upload the password-protected PDF.

• Then you’ll be prompted to enter the file password > This tool will instantly convert read-only PDF to editable PDF online.
• Click Download File to save the PDF without editing restrictions.

If you don’t know that password to open the PDF, try other PDF password remover or password recovery tools like iLovePDF or LostMyPass.

Edit the PDF in Preview in Google Docs

Cause: Google Docs doesn’t support read-only restrictions. It can bypass some read-only restrictions, allowing you to edit it and save it as a new document.

Solution: Upload your PDF to Google Drive, and open the PDF with Google Docs, then the PDF will be OCRed to be editable.

• Open Google Drive and upload the PDF file.
• Right-click the PDF > Go to Open with > Select Google Docs.
• After that, the read-only PDF will be opened to an editable document.

Once you’re done editing, you can download the Google Docs as PDF if needed.

Convert PDF to be Editable in Google Drive

Cause: In Google Drive, you can enable automatic conversion of uploaded files, which makes the PDFs editable in Google Docs.

Solution: You’ll need to open your Google Drive settings and check the box “Convert uploaded files to Google Docs editor format”.

Follow the steps to convert PDF to be editable PDF by Google Drive:

• Navigate to Google Drive on your device.
• Go to Settings > General > Check the box for Convert uploads files to Google Docs editor format under Uploads.

• Then upload your PDF and open it > Choose Open with Google Docs to edit the PDF without limitations.

Edit the PDF in Preview on Mac

Cause: On Mac, Preview doesn’t support read-only restrictions.

Solution: While you can’t edit existing text in PDF directly, Preview supports markup for basic editing, such as highlighting or adding text boxes.

• Open the PDF in Preview.
• Go to the Markup Tool icon from the top left corner to access the markup tools.
• Then you can annotate the read-only PDF using different markup tools.

FAQs

What is a read-only PDF?

A read-only PDF is a document that has been saved with restrictions that prevent editing, printing, copying, or any other changes by unauthorized users. These restrictions are typically enforced with permissions set by the document’s creator.

How can I tell if a PDF is read-only?

Get PDFgear software and open a PDF with it, you can tell it’s read-only if you are unable to select text, even in the text editing mode.

Can I edit a read-only PDF without the password?

PDFgear allows you to edit read-only PDFs without the owner’s password. However, it may be illegal or unethical to bypass the security features of a PDF without authorization.

How do I remove the read-only restriction from a PDF?

Open the document in Adobe Acrobat, move to Security Tab > enable No Security > you’ll be prompted to enter the password > add password > OK.

Is it legal to edit a read-only PDF?

It depends on the reason the PDF is read-only and your jurisdiction. If the document is protected to enforce copyright or other intellectual property rights, or to preserve the integrity of the content, then bypassing those protections could be illegal. Always ensure you have the right to edit the document before attempting to do so.

Can I convert a read-only PDF to an editable format?

PDFgear also offers a PDF converter tool to convert the PDF to a Word document or another editable format. The file will be editable after the conversion.
However, this should only be done if you’re authorized to make such changes to the document.