How to Prevent Editing of a PDF (Make It Read-Only)

Make a PDF read-only in 3 steps

1. 1

   Open Editing Permissions and add the PDF

   Go to Editing Permissions and drop the file in. Two switches appear first: Allow editing page content and Allow inserting, rotating and deleting pages. Both are already off.

2. 2

   Decide about comments and forms

   Open Other permissions to see the rest. Comments and form filling are still allowed by default. Untick Allow comments and annotations too if reviewers should not mark up the file.

3. 3

   Apply permissions and save

   Click Apply permissions, check the Editing content and Inserting, rotating, deleting pages rows in the report, copy the owner password, and click Download PDF.

The two editing switches explained

Allow editing page content covers changing text, images and other objects on the page. Turn it off so nobody can quietly alter figures in a quote or wording in a policy.

Allow inserting, rotating and deleting pages covers document assembly: adding or removing pages, changing their order or rotation, and editing bookmarks. Turn it off when the page sequence matters, as in a numbered report or a signed agreement. You can keep one switch on and the other off. For example, allow page assembly so a colleague can append an appendix, but block content edits.

Editing vs commenting: a common surprise

In the PDF standard, comments and form filling are separate from content editing. A file with both editing switches off still lets readers add sticky notes, highlights and form entries. That is often what you want for a review copy. If it isn't, use Comment Permissions, which starts with comments off. Its guide on restricting comments explains how form filling ties in.

How strong is the edit lock?

It stops honest edits in compliant software. Acrobat, for instance, disables its Edit PDF and Organize Pages tools for restricted files unless the owner password is entered. It is not tamper-proof. The restriction is a permission flag, and software that ignores it can modify the file. Someone determined can also recreate the document from scratch.

If you need proof that a document has not changed, keep your own copy and compare against it. Signing workflows that use certificate-based digital signatures detect changes. A drawn signature from Draw Signature is a visible mark and does not detect tampering.

Finish the document before you lock it

• Make last text changes with Edit PDF and fix page order with Reorder Pages.
• Bake filled-in form answers into the page with Flatten PDF Form so they display the same everywhere.
• Apply the editing restriction last. KissThePDF's editing tools refuse encrypted files, so you would have to unlock it first anyway.

Frequently asked questions