How to print a secured PDF.

Person sitting at a wooden table using a tablet to learn how to print a secured PDF with other people and colorful fruit in the background.

While printing from a secured PDF may not always be the easiest task, it’s still doable. Discover two methods to successfully print a secured PDF.

When you create a PDF and secure it to prevent unauthorized edits, that doesn’t mean it’s locked from printing forever. You can easily print your secured PDF — even without a password — by using a PDF editor or taking a quick screenshot. Learn how to use these two printing methods below.

How to print a secured PDF.

Do you know the password to the secured PDF? If so, you can easily unlock the document and print a secured PDF using a PDF editor like Acrobat. Open the PDF you want to print in Acrobat, and follow these steps:

Person sitting at a wooden table using a tablet to learn how to print a secured PDF with other people and colorful fruit in the background.

Enter the password to view the secured PDF.
Click File on the top toolbar.
Select Print from the drop-down menu.
Choose your printer settings.
Click Print.

When you have the password, the process for printing a secured PDF is the same as any other document.

If you plan to edit or print a secured PDF in the future, you can remove the password protection in Acrobat by clicking File > Security and updating the settings. That way, you can easily print, edit, or even convert the PDF any time without needing the password.

Take a screenshot of the secured PDF.

In a pinch, you can print a secured PDF without a password by taking a screenshot — as long as you can open it.

Once you’ve opened the secured PDF, zoom out to fit the entire page on your screen, and use the snipping tool to take a screenshot of the entire document. Then, save the screenshot as a PNG or JPG and print it using your device’s media viewer.

For multi-page PDFs, you may have to repeat this process for each individual page and merge all the files into one PDF using an online editor for easy printing.

Just be aware that this printing method won’t produce the same quality as the other two. Screenshot printing a secured PDF should only be used as a last resort and for unofficial purposes.

Frequently asked questions

What is a secured PDF?

If you don’t want anyone to be able to make changes to your document, you can secure the PDF with a password to prevent unauthorized users from making edits.

Why can’t I print a secured PDF?

One of the security options when you secure a PDF is to restrict printing permissions. If these options have been turned on, it will limit anyone’s ability to print the PDF unless they have the password.

How do I remove the password for a secured PDF?

The best way to remove a password for a secured PDF is to change the security settings in Acrobat. You can remove restrictions by inputting the password in the Security tab under File on the top toolbar.

How do I secure my PDF after printing?

You can secure your PDF using the advanced security settings in Acrobat or password protect a PDF with an online PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat online services.

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