How to Restrict Printing of a PDF (Block or Low-Res Only)

Disable printing in a PDF in 3 steps

1. 1

   Add the file to Printing Permissions

   Open Printing Permissions and drop your PDF in. The Printing control is at the top and is already set to Not allowed.

2. 2

   Choose Not allowed or Low resolution

   Keep Not allowed to block printing, or click Low resolution to let people print a rough copy. Leave Also require a password to open the PDF unticked if anyone should be able to read the file.

3. 3

   Apply permissions and download

   Click Apply permissions. Check that the Printing row in the report reads Not allowed or Low resolution only, copy the generated owner password, then click Download PDF. The file is saved with -restricted in its name.

Not allowed vs Low resolution

Not allowed tells the reader to disable printing entirely. The print button is greyed out or the print dialog refuses to start.

Low resolution lets the reader print, but only as a degraded image of each page instead of sharp vector text. The printout is fine for reading on paper and poor for reproducing, which suits draft contracts, sheet music previews or proof copies of artwork. How degraded the print looks depends on the reader, so test it in the viewer your audience uses.

Will this stop screenshots or photocopies?

No. A print restriction only works inside readers that respect the PDF permission flags. It does not stop screenshots, phone photos of the screen, or software that ignores the flags. Because a print-restricted file still opens without a password, its pages are readable by any program that opens it. Use it to discourage casual printing, not to keep content secret.

If the real goal is to show who a copy belongs to, a visible mark often works better. Add the recipient's name with Watermark PDF before you restrict printing, so any photo or screenshot carries it too.

Block printing and copying together

Open Other permissions below the Printing control to untick Allow copying text and images in the same run. People who want to reproduce a document often try copying once printing fails. If copying is your main concern, Copy Permissions opens with that switch already off; its guide on preventing copying explains the limits.

How to tell if a PDF blocks printing

Open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader and choose File > Properties > Security; the summary lists Printing as Not Allowed, Low Resolution or Allowed. You can also drop the file into Remove PDF Password: for a restrictions-only file it shows the full permission list before you remove anything.

Frequently asked questions