How to Edit Read Only PDF | 5 Ways🔥

A read-only PDF is the most stable format for document saving, viewing, and sharing. However, the read-only or uneditable feature might be a hindrance if you intend to edit a read-only PDF or remove protection from a PDF. If you are stuck in a similar disturbance, please learn to edit read-only PDFs in the following ways.

#1. Edit Read-Only PDF with EaseUS PDF Editor🔥

"How do I remove protection from a PDF and edit it?" You can import your PDF into EaseUS PDF Editor directly and edit it using it. This powerful editor's Remove Security feature makes it easy to remove read-only from PDFs and edit protected PDFs as usual. It also supports encrypting a document with a password to add security to PDF files.

Key Features:

• Convert PDF to PPT, DOCX, JPG, PNG, or DOC
• Insert and edit texts and images in PDF
• Remove background from PDF
• Compress, rotate, merge, split, or reorder PDF
• Annotate PDFs with many tools

The steps below depict how to edit a read-only PDF using EaseUS PDF Editor.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS PDF Editor and click "Edit". Then, choose and import the PDF you want to edit from your computer.

Step 2. There are many editing tools. You may choose to add text, image, link, watermark, set background, edit header & Footer, etc. Always remember to save the changes with the "Save" button.

Step 3. When you made all the changes, click "File" > "Save as" to save it to your computer. You need to give the new PDF file a name and file location, and click "Save" in the next window to finish.

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#2. Edit or Convert a Read-Only PDF with Adobe Acrobat

"How do I edit a read-only PDF?" If you want to edit read-only PDFs without losing data, you can also use Adobe Acrobat, especially for Adobe Acrobat subscribers, to edit PDF documents, including editable and uneditable ones.

The only limitation of the software is that it's a paid solution and quite expensive for some budgetary users.

The following steps demonstrate how to remove read-only PDF restrictions via Adobe Acrobat. However, an accessible PDF password is essential before adopting this way.

Step 1. Upload your protected PDF to Adobe Acrobat.

Step 2. Ensure you have read-only PDF password information > select Tools > click Protect > Encrypt > Remove Security > enter the password if asked.

Step 3. Edit this PDF file > save your modifications.

#3. Convert Read-Only PDF to Editable via Google Docs

How to convert read-only PDF to editable PDF online? Some of you might have an unhappy experience editing read-only PDF files via some online tools. So you can convert a read-only PDF to editable via Google Docs rather than Google Drive because you're not allowed to edit a PDF file on Google Drive directly.

Then, you can make it editable by converting the PDF into Google Docs. It's easy to operate. Let's show how it works.

Step 1. Sign in to your Google Drive > click New > select File upload to add your read-only PDF to Google Drive.

Step 2. Find your uploaded PDF in your Google Drive > right-click on it > select Open with > Google Docs.

Step 3. After opening it, edit it. If you want to save these changes, please click File > select Download > choose PDF Document (.pdf). This process will save your edited PDF version as a new PDF document.

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#4. Convert a Read-Only PDF to Editable via MS Word

Although Microsoft Word is designed mainly to edit and save Word documents, you can also use it to convert or edit read-only, protected PDFs.

Step 1. Open your MS Word application > click File > select Open to upload your read-only or protected PDF.

Step 2. MS Word will automatically convert a read-only PDF into an editable one > modify this editable PDF > remember to press Ctrl + S to keep your edits.

Step 4. After editing, click File > select Save as > click Browse.

Step 5. After seeing a pop-up window, select PDF (*.pdf) next to the Save as type tab > click Save.

#5. Convert Read-Only PDF to Editable PDF Online

How to convert read-only PDF to editable PDF online? You can utilize online tools like Smallpdf directly because it can help you freely convert PDFs into editable Word documents online. No sign-up is required, and no watermarks have been added.

Step 1. Go to https://smallpdf.com/pdf-to-word via any browser > click CHOOSE FILES or drop files here > add the protected PDF you want to edit.

Step 2. The PDF to Word conversion process depends on the size of your uploaded PDF. Please wait patiently. After conversion, you can get the conversed Word file by clicking Download or selecting Edit Text.

Bonus tips: How to Make a PDF Non-Editable

You frequently need to share PDF documents with others, but you may not want them to be able to modify the files. Do you want to learn how to produce a non-editable PDF but don't know where to begin? Here are three feasible ways.

1️⃣Save your PDF as read-only via Windows or Mac's basic tools

Please refer to the corresponding clicks to the different OS.

🚩For Windows: Right-click on your PDF > select Properties > choose Read-only > click OK.

🚩For Mac: Select your PDF > click File > select Get Info. If necessary, check the access rights under the Sharing and Permissions tab.

2️⃣Password your PDF via Adobe Acrobat

Password-locking your PDFs using Adobe Acrobat is a better choice if you prefer a higher protection.

Step 1. Go to https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/password-protect-pdf.html via any browser > click Select a file.

Step 2. Enter a password > enter it again to confirm the password. Once the password is matched, click Set password. Remember to make a copy of your password to prevent data loss.

Step 3. You need to sign in if you want to download or share this protected PDF.

3️⃣Make a PDF read-only with Adobe Acrobat

Most PDF editing software provides simple features for restricting editing. Here, you can also use Adobe Acrobat to make a PDF read-only. Here are the clicks: ▶️Open your PDF with Adobe Acrobat > click Tools > select Protect > Restrict Editing.

Conclusion

How to edit read-only PDFs? Several authentic PDF editors introduced by this post can edit read-only PDF files without hassle. Based on our assessment, EaseUS PDF Editor outperforms the other four ways because of its security removal, PDF editing, and PDF converting features. Naturally, you can also select a suitable method that fits your situation.

FAQs about How to Edit a Read-Only PDF

This section lists several relevant topics about how to edit a read-only PDF. Please check them out below.

1. Why do users want to make PDF documents editable?

An editable PDF improves usability by allowing users to fill out forms, add comments, or enter data directly, streamlining workflows and increasing efficiency for authors and recipients.

2. How do I change a file from read-only to edit?

You can check the file properties by right-clicking on the file > choosing Properties. If the Read-only attribute is checked, uncheck it > click OK.

3. How do I make a PDF file editable on a Mac?

If you open a PDF with Preview or Acrobat online tools, you can add notes, drawings, and comments. Similarly, you can alter the primary text, graphics, and other features after opening it in Acrobat.

4. How to edit a read-only PDF using Gmail?

If you received an email with a PDF file attached, you will see a View link beside the previously existing Download link. Then, click it, and the PDF document will be converted to HTML. Open the HTML file in Microsoft Word and select Save as.doc. At this point, you can modify your read-only PDF file in Word.

5. How do I make a PDF editable on my phone?

Here are two efficient ways for your reference.

🚩Option 1. Use the Adobe Reader app

Step 1. Go to the App Store or Google Play Store to download the Adobe Reader app > install and launch it on your phone.

Step 2. Select the PDF file from the Adobe Reader app or choose a file from your phone to upload.

Step 3. Use your Adobe Reader app to edit your PDF.

🚩Option 2. Use the Microsoft Office: Edit & Share app

Step 1. Download and install the Microsoft Office mobile app on your iOS or Android device > open the app > sign in with your email, phone, or Skype credentials.

Step 2. Click the File icon at the top corner > locate the file you want to edit. Please access it or import it from your cloud services like Google Drive.

Step 3. Once the PDF file is selected, tap on the three-dotted button at the screen's top right corner. Then, select Convert to Word.

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