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5 Best Ways to Edit a Protected PDF on a Mac

July 19, 2023
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Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the best methods to edit a protected PDF on your Mac. PDF (Portable Document Format) files are widely used for sharing and preserving digital documents in a secure and consistent format. While the protection features in PDFs are essential for safeguarding sensitive information, they can sometimes pose challenges when it comes to making necessary edits or modifications.

If you’re a Mac user seeking efficient ways to edit a protected PDF, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will present you with five of the most effective techniques that allow you to copy text from or edit protected PDF files while maintaining the integrity of the document’s security features. Whether you need to add annotations, modify text, insert images, or extract pages, we have you covered.

So, if you’re ready to enhance your productivity and streamline your PDF editing workflow on your Mac, let’s delve into the five best ways to edit protected PDFs!

Method 1: Use Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is a powerful and widely recognized software solution for working with PDF files, offering a range of advanced editing features. With Acrobat Pro DC, you can efficiently edit protected PDFs on your Mac while preserving the document’s security settings. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro DC: If you don’t have it installed, you can download and install the software from the Adobe website.
  2. Open the protected PDF: Click on “File” in the menu bar and select “Open” to browse and locate the protected PDF file you wish to edit. Choose the file and click “Open.”
  3. Enter the password: If the PDF is password-protected, a dialogue box will appear, prompting you to enter the password. Type in the correct password and click “OK.”
  4. Enable editing: Once the protected PDF is opened in Acrobat Pro DC, navigate to the right-hand panel and click on “Protect.” From the options presented, choose “Encrypt with Password.”
  5. Remove the password: In the dialogue box that appears, you will see the current password filled in. Clear the password field and click “OK” to remove the password protection from the PDF.
  6. Start editing: Now that the password protection has been removed, you can freely edit the PDF using the various tools provided by Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. Modify text, add or delete images, insert pages, or make any necessary changes to the document. Save your changes, and that’s it!

Method 2: Utilize Online PDF Editors

Another convenient way to edit a protected PDF on your Mac is by utilizing online PDF editors. These web-based tools offer a user-friendly and accessible solution without the need for additional software installations. Here’s how you can edit a protected PDF using an online PDF editor:

  1. Choose a reliable online PDF editor: There are several reputable online PDF editors available. Visit the website of your preferred online PDF editor using your web browser.
  2. Upload the protected PDF: Look for the option to upload or select the PDF file you want to edit. Usually, there will be a prominent button like “Choose File” or “Upload PDF.”
  3. Enter the password: If the PDF file is password-protected, the online PDF editor will prompt you to enter the password to unlock it. Enter the correct password in the provided field and proceed.
  4. Edit the PDF: Once the protected PDF is uploaded and unlocked, you can begin making edits. Online PDF editors typically provide a range of editing tools.
  5. Apply the desired changes: Use the editing tools to modify the content of the PDF as needed. You can add or delete text, highlight or underline sections, insert images or shapes, and perform various other edits.
  6. Save the edited PDF: After you have finished editing the protected PDF, look for the option to save or download the edited file!

Method 3: Leverage Preview App’s Markup Tools

If you’re looking for a built-in solution on your Mac, the Preview app offers a range of powerful markup tools that can be utilized to edit protected PDFs. Although Preview may not provide as extensive editing features as specialized software, it still offers ample functionality to make essential modifications. Here’s how:

  1. Open the protected PDF: Locate the protected PDF file on your Mac and double-click to open it with the default Preview app. If the PDF is password-protected, you will be prompted to enter the password before accessing its content.
  2. Enable the editing mode: Once the protected PDF is open in Preview, click on the “Markup Toolbar” icon located in the top-right corner of the window.
  3. Modify text and add annotations: To edit the text within the protected PDF, click on the “Text Tool” from the Markup Toolbar. Double-click on the text you want to edit, make the necessary changes, and adjust the font size or style as needed.
  4. Save the edited PDF: Once you have made the necessary edits to the protected PDF, click on “File” in the menu bar and choose “Save” to save the changes. Alternatively, you can use “Export” to create a new PDF file with the edited content, leaving the original protected PDF intact.

Method 4: Use PDFelement for Mac

PDFelement for Mac is a powerful third-party software specifically designed for working with PDF files, including editing protected PDFs. Here’s how you can edit a protected PDF using PDFelement:

  1. Install and launch PDFelement: Download and install PDFelement for Mac from the official website. Once installed, open the application on your Mac.
  2. Open the protected PDF: Click on the “Open File” button in the PDFelement toolbar to browse and select the protected PDF file you want to edit. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the PDF file directly into the PDFelement window.
  3. Enter the password: If the protected PDF is password-protected, PDFelement will prompt you to enter the password to unlock it. Enter the correct password in the provided field and click “OK” to proceed.
  4. Edit the protected PDF: Once the protected PDF is opened in PDFelement, you will have access to a wide range of editing tools. Modify text, images, and pages, add annotations, apply watermarks, or perform other necessary edits as per your requirements.
  5. Save the edited PDF: After you have made the desired edits, click on the “File” menu and select “Save” to save the changes to the protected PDF file. You can also choose “Save As” to create a new PDF file with the edited content, leaving the original protected PDF untouched.

Method 5: Harness Google Drive’s PDF Editing Features

If you’re looking for a cloud-based solution, Google Drive offers a convenient way to edit protected PDFs using its integrated PDF editing features. Here’s how to edit a protected PDF using Google Drive:

  1. Upload the protected PDF to Google Drive: Open your web browser and navigate to Google Drive (drive.google.com). Sign in with your Google account or create one if you don’t have it already. Once logged in, click on the “+ New” button and select “File upload.” Locate the protected PDF file on your Mac and click “Open” to upload it to your Google Drive.
  2. Open the protected PDF with Google Docs: After the protected PDF is uploaded to Google Drive, right-click on the PDF file and select “Open with” from the context menu. Choose “Google Docs” from the available options. Google Docs will convert the protected PDF into an editable format.
  3. Edit the protected PDF in Google Docs: Once the PDF is open in Google Docs, you can make various edits to the document. Modify text, insert or delete images, format paragraphs, or apply styling changes.
  4. Collaborate and share changes: If you’re collaborating with others, you can invite them to view or edit the protected PDF in Google Docs. Simply click on the “Share” button in the top-right corner of the Google Docs window, enter the email addresses of the collaborators, and set their access permissions.
  5. Save the changes and export as PDF: Once you have completed the necessary edits, click on “File” in the menu bar and choose “Download” > “PDF Document” to export the modified PDF file.

Remember, while editing protected PDFs, always ensure that you have the necessary permissions and legal rights to make modifications. Respect the confidentiality and security measures associated with the protected PDFs you handle. Happy editing!