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PDFs are one of the most commonly shared document types. But, unfortunately, with that reliability sometimes comes restrictions. One of the most common restrictions put on PDFs is disabling printing. How frustrating is it when you need to print a document and you find out that the print option is grayed out? When you encounter grayed out or disabled print options, you are dealing with print security or restrictions. In the article below, we will talk about the ways to remove print security from PDF legally and ethically. 

What is Print Security on a PDF?

Print security is a restriction applied to a PDF by the creator to prevent unauthorized printing. It uses an Owner password or permissions to limit what a recipient can do with the PDF file. In most situations, you can read the document, but if you don't have the password, the printing, copying, or editing options are disabled. 

There are a few common situations you might want to apply print security to a PDF:

• To protect confidential business reports, proposals, etc.

• To protect an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted material. 

• As a means to control the distribution of sensitive documents in, academic, governmental or other settings.

Besides the usability, there are various instances where you want to remove print restriction from PDF document for seamless accessibility and offline users. Before jumping into the methods, let’s discover the reasons for removing the protection. 

Why Remove Print Security from PDF?

In various cases where removing print security makes sense include:

• Business Use: You received a file from a client from which you need hard copies as part of a presentation for a meeting.

• Educational Use: Teachers or students may need printed materials for offline studying or group projects.

• Personal Use: You may want a printed version of a personal document you created previously but no longer know the access password.

Note: It is always prudent to ascertain that you have the authority to modify the PDF you own. Bypassing security on documents that are not yours, or that you have no permission to modify, may involve copyright or privacy infringement.

How to Check Printing Restrictions on a PDF

The first step when dealing with a secured PDF is to verify it is secured:

• Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader or another viewer.

• Go to File > Properties > Security tab.

• Find Document Restrictions Summary. If you see “Printing: Not Allowed”, the PDF is secured in print.

How to Remove Print Security from PDF - Try Adobe Acrobat Pro Software 

If you’re seeking ways to remove print permissions from PDF, consider Adobe Acrobat Pro tool. It is the most trusted and highly preferred software solution for removing any kind of protection and security from PDF document. The tool is designed for Windows, macOS, and even mobile applications. In other words, it certainly increases the accessibility of the software across all devices. Besides this, the tool allows you to remove multiple permissions and passwords, such as print protection. 

Most importantly, the interface of this software provides all the functionality to meet your business and industrial requirements. In this way, you can make batch removal of print security from PDF document. Now, follow the steps to remove print security from PDF using Adobe:

1. Start by downloading the Adobe Acrobat tool on your machine. 

2. Use the File option and go to Tools and look for Encrypt. 

3. In the Security drop-down menu > find the No Security feature. 

4. Now, use the OK and Save buttons to download the unprotected PDF file. 

Adobe Acrobat is considered the most premium and subscription-based software solution. Since this tool is highly functional. Here, the fee structure is equally high. Below are the major limitations of Adobe Acrobat software: 

• The pricing structure won’t be justified for all users. 

• For both professional and business users, the subscription plans aren’t useful. 

• Lastly, the interface is quite complex and offers challenges when removing print protection. 

How to Remove Print Permissions from PDF - Try SysTools PDF Unlocking Solution 

If you’re seeking the ways to remove print permissions from PDF, try SysTools PDF Unlocker, the best and most reliable tool for Windows or macOS users. Compared to Adobe Acrobat, this tool is cost-effective and won’t offer any challenges. Using this pro utility, you can easily disable the permissions and PDF restrictions such as printing. It allows you to download and access the print-friendly PDF document instantly.  

Besides this, the software is fast and offers batch processing. Now, follow the steps to remove print permissions from PDF using SysTools PDF software: 

1. Run and use the SysTools PDF Print unlocking tool. 

2. “Add Files or Folders” to upload the required PDF files. 

3. Pick Save and navigate to the Change button. 

4. Finally, use the Unlock key to remove the protection. 

Final Words 

In the above guide, we have shared 2 ways to remove print security from PDF document. Using these methods, you can simply disable the print protection and download the document for print usage. Instead of using Adobe Acrobat, consider the SysTools PDF print unlocking tool, it is secure and useful for all professional and personal work.