Two ways to copy text from a secured PDF.
Just because you have a password-protected PDF doesn’t mean you still can’t work with it. Learn these two easy methods to copy text from a PDF, even if it’s secured.
When you’re faced with the task of working with password-protected PDF documents, don’t worry — there are a few basic ways to copy text from a PDF. Whether it’s opening the secured document with the password using an online PDF editor, or converting the PDF to an editable filetype, read on to learn how easy it is to work with both methods.
How to copy text from a secured PDF
If you know the password to the secured PDF, the easiest way to copy text is to simply remove the password with a tool like Adobe Acrobat. Open the secured PDF in Acrobat and follow these steps:
- Click File on the top toolbar and find Properties.
- Click the Security tab.
- Use the drop-down menu to choose No Security.
- Enter the password and click OK.
- Press OK again.
- Save the document to remove the security password.
Once you’ve removed the password, the PDF will be unsecured and you’re free to copy and paste all the text you want. Highlight the text you want to copy, right-click with your mouse, and choose Copy. Paste the text into another document of your choice, and you’re good to go.
When you’re finished copying the text, you can resecure the PDF in Acrobat or add a password to the PDF with an online tool like Adobe Acrobat online services to prevent unauthorized edits.
Method 2. Take a screenshot from a PDF reader.
It can be a bit more complicated to copy text from a secured PDF if you don’t have the password, but it’s still possible with a PDF reader like Acrobat Reader — depending on the document’s security settings.
In some cases, the secured PDF’s security settings may allow you to view the PDF but restrict the ability to copy or print. In a pinch, you can take a screenshot of the text you want to copy and paste the image into another document or filetype.
Unfortunately, when you paste the screenshot, it won’t act as text in the new document. It will be a JPEG or PNG image. You won’t be able to edit it with your keyboard, but you will have it copied. You can also easily convert the JPEG to a PDF using an online tool.