How To Download Protected Pdf Files

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This wikiHow teaches you how to copy text from a PDF file that is edit-locked on a Windows or Mac computer. When a PDF is edit-locked with a password you are unable to copy the text in most PDF viewers. If you don't know the password, you can try to save it as a non-secured PDF using Google Chrome or unlock it using the SmallPDF website. If you know the password, you can unlock it using Adobe Acrobat Pro. These methods will only work if you can still view and print the PDF without a password. If the PDF is encrypted and password-locked, preventing you from viewing the PDF in the first place, you will most likely not be able to bypass the security.

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1
Open Google Chrome. Google Chrome is the app that has an image of a red, green, and yellow wheel with a blue dot in the middle.
- Download Google Chrome, if you haven't already done so.
2

Drag the PDF into Chrome. This will open the PDF in a new Google Chrome tab.
3

Click . It's the icon that resembles a printer in the upper-right corner of the page.
4

Click Change . It's in the sidebar to the left under the destination printer.
5

Click Save as PDF . It's in the Change menu in the sidebar. This will change the destination so that the file saves as a new PDF file, instead of printing.
6

Click Save . It's the blue button in the sidebar to the left.
7
Select a location and click Save . Select the folder or location you want to save the file to, then click the "Save" button. It's in the lower-right corner of the file browser window.
- If you wish to give the PDF a different file name than the original, type it in the bar labeled "File name."
8

Open the new PDF. Navigate to the file you just saved to your computer and double-click it to open it. It will open in your default PDF viewer as a non-secured PDF.
9
Copy the desired text. Click the cursor and drag it to the end of the text you want to copy to highlight it. You can then right-click the text and then select "Copy", or if you are using a Mac with an Apple Magic Mouse or trackpad, you can click the trackpad or mouse with two fingers and then select "Copy".
- You can also copy the desired text by pressing Ctrl+C on Windows, or ⌘ Command+C on Mac.

1
2
Click Choose File . It's below the PDF icon in the pink box.
- You can also drag and drop a secured PDF File into the pink box.
3

Select a PDF file. Navigate to the secured PDF and click it.
4

Click Open . It's in the lower-right corner of the file browser window.
5

Click the checkbox . It's the large checkbox to the right that states "I pinky swear that I have the right to edit this file and remove its protection," just above the pink button.
6

Click Unlock PDF! . It's the pink button to the right of the box in the center of the screen.
7

Click Download File Now . It's in the lower-left corner of the box. This will download the file as an unsecured PDF.
8

Open the downloaded PDF. By default, your downloaded files can be found in the Downloads folder.
9
Copy the desired text. Click the cursor and drag it to the end of the text you want to copy to highlight it. You can then right-click the text and then select "Copy", or if you are using a Mac with an Apple Magic Mouse or trackpad, you can click the trackpad or mouse with two fingers and then select "Copy".
- You can also copy the desired text by pressing Ctrl+C on Windows, or ⌘ Command+C on Mac.

1

Open Adobe Acrobat Pro. You need Adobe Acrobat Pro to remove a password. Adobe Acrobat Reader will not let you remove the password.
2

Click File . It's located in the upper-left corner of the app in the menu bar.
3

Click Open . It's in the File menu of Adobe Acrobat Pro.
4

Double-click the PDF. Navigate to where the secured PDF is located and double-click it to open it.
5
Click the padlock icon. It's on the left side of the screen below the Home tab.
- If the PDF is user-locked, you may be prompted to enter the password for the PDF.
6

Click Permission Details . It is found below the Security Settings heading.
7

Select No Security in the Security Method box. Use the pulldown menu to select "No Security".
8

Type the PDF password. If you do not know the password for the PDF, you will not be able to change the security settings in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
9

Click Ok . This will save the PDF as an unsecured PDF.
10

Click Ok again. This will confirm that you wish to save the PDF as an unsecured PDF. You can now copy text from the document.
11
Copy the desired text. Click the cursor and drag it to the end of the text you want to copy to highlight it. You can then right-click the text and then select "Copy", or if you are using a Mac with an Apple Magic Mouse or trackpad, you can click the trackpad or mouse with two fingers and then select "Copy".
- You can also copy the desired text by pressing Ctrl+C on Windows, or ⌘ Command+C on Mac.