How to Copy Secure PDF Files on Windows or Mac Computers

This is an article showing how to copy text from a PDF file with editing functions locked on a Windows or Mac computer. When a PDF file has a password set to lock the editing function, you cannot copy the content in most PDF file viewing programs. If you don't know the password, you can save the file as an unsecured PDF using Google Chrome or unlock it using the SmallPDF site. If you know the password, unlock the file using Adobe Acrobat Pro. These methods only work if you can still view and print the PDF without a password. If the PDF file is encrypted and has a password lock that prevents you from viewing the file the first time you open it, it means you can't bypass the security settings.If you need to create, merge, or convert PDF files, try TipsMake's PDF toolkit - it's a free and easy-to-use tool that helps you process documents more efficiently.

Use Google Chrome

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Open Google Chrome. This is the app that has a red, green, and yellow circular icon with a blue dot in the middle.

Download Google Chrome if you haven't done so already.

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Drag PDF files into Chrome. This opens the PDF file in a new Google Chrome tab.

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Click . It's the printer icon in the top right corner of the page.

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Click Change . This option is in the left pane and below the selected printer name.

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Click Save as PDF . This is an option in the Change menu on the side of the page. This will change the destination so the file is saved as a PDF instead of printed on paper.

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Click Save . It's the blue button in the left pane.

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Select the folder and click Save . Select the folder or location where you want to save the file, then click "Save". This is the button in the bottom right corner of the file browser window.

If you want to rename the original PDF file, enter information in the field labeled "File name".

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Open the new PDF file. Find the file you just saved to your computer and double-click to open it. The file will be opened in the default PDF viewer without requiring password protection.

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Copy the content you want. Click and drag to the end of the content to be copied to highlight it. You can right-click the content and select "Copy," or if you're using a Mac with an Apple Magic mouse or trackpad, click the trackpad or mouse with two fingers and select "Copy." .

You can also copy content by pressing Ctrl+ Con Windows or ⌘ Command+ Con Mac.

Use the PDF unlock page

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Visit https://smallpdf.com/unlock-pdf in the browser. You can use any web browser on your Windows or Mac computer.

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Click Choose File . This option is below the PDF icon in the pink box.

You can also drag and drop the secured PDF file into the pink box.

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Select the PDF file. Find the secured PDF file and click on it.

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Click Open . This is the option in the bottom right corner of the file browser window.

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Click the check box. It's the big checkbox to the right of the words "I pinky swear that I have the right to edit this file and remove its protection", right above the pink button. .

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Click Unlock PDF! (Unlock PDF! ). It's the pink button to the right of the box in the middle of the screen.

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Click Download File Now . This option is in the bottom left corner of the box. The file is immediately downloaded as an unsecured PDF.

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Open the file you just downloaded. By default, downloaded files are found in the Downloads folder.

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Copy content. Click and drag to the end of the content to be copied to highlight it. You can right-click the content and select "Copy," or if you're using a Mac with an Apple Magic mouse or trackpad, you can click the trackpad or mouse with two fingers and select "Copy".

You can also copy content by pressing Ctrl+ Con Windows or ⌘ Command+ Con Mac.

Use Adobe Acrobat Pro with a password

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Open Adobe Acrobat Pro. You need Adobe Acrobat Pro to remove passwords. Adobe Acrobat Reader does not allow you to remove passwords.

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Click File . This option is in the upper left corner of the app in the menu bar.

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Click Open . This is an option in Adobe Acrobat Pro's File menu.

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Double click the PDF file. Open the folder where the secured PDF file is saved and click on the file to open.

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Click the padlock icon. This option is on the left side of the screen, just below the Home tab.

If the PDF file has a security lock, you will be asked to enter a password to open the file.

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Click Permission Details . This is the option below the Security Settings heading.

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Select No Security in the Security Method box. You will select "No Security" in the menu that appears.

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Enter the password of the PDF file. If you don't know the PDF file's password, you cannot change the security settings in Adobe Acrobat Pro.

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

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Click Ok again. This confirms that you want to save the PDF as an unsecured file. You can now copy content in text.

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Copy content. Click and drag the mouse to the end of the text to be copied to highlight it. You can right-click the text and select "Copy," or if you're using a Mac with an Apple Magic mouse or trackpad, you can click the trackpad or mouse with two fingers and select " Copy".

You can also copy content by pressing Ctrl+ Con Windows or ⌘ Command+ Con Mac.