How to Enable Print Option in PDF: Easy Guide to Unlock Printing

Why Printing Is Disabled in Some PDF Files

Before you try to fix the issue, it’s important to understand why the print option might be restricted in a PDF file. In most cases, it’s done on purpose to protect the content from being shared or misused.

Here are the common reasons why PDF printing is disabled:

• To begin with, owner-level permissions may be applied to block printing access intentionally.
• In some cases, the file is password-protected, restricting actions like editing or printing.
• Additionally, encryption or advanced security settings may prevent printing and copying content.
• Moreover, documents downloaded from licensed platforms often include DRM that disables printing.
• Sometimes, scanned PDFs are saved as view-only files, limiting print functionality by default.
• Also, PDF restrictions may be set during export from tools like Adobe Acrobat or MS Word.

How to Check If Printing Is Disabled in a PDF

Before fixing the issue, you need to confirm whether printing is restricted in your file. Here’s how:

1. First, open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. Next, click on File from the top menu and select Properties.
3. Then, navigate to the Security tab in the Properties window.
4. Under the Document Restrictions Summary, look for the Printing status.
5. If it says “Not Allowed” then printing is disabled on this file.
6. Review other permissions(copy&edit) to understand the full restriction level.
7. Also, you can use direct solution to remove password protection from PDF file.

Tip: You can also press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (Mac) to open the Properties window quickly.

3 Proven Solutions to Enable Print Option in PDF 

After verifying the restriction, it is possible to select the best option to remove it, either with skilled manual methods or with reliable software, such as Aryson PDF Unlocker Tool. There are various methods to enable the Print option of a restricted PDF document. Provided below are the most efficient methods:

Solution 01: Unlock PDF for Printing via Adobe Acrobat

Here, we will use Adobe Acrobat to enable print option in PDF:

• First, open Adobe Acrobat Pro and load the PDF file you want to unlock.
• Next, go to the File tab and select the restricted PDF from your system.
• Then, right-click anywhere in the document and choose Document Properties.
• After that, navigate to the Security tab in the Properties window.
• Now, under Security Method, click on the Change Settings option.
• Once prompted, enter the permission password correctly and press OK.
• Afterward, set the Printing permission to Allowed from the dropdown list.
• Finally, click OK, save the file, and printing will now be enabled.

Note: This method works only if you already know the file’s restriction password. Know how to sign a locked PDF File.

Cons: 

• In many situations, it can’t unlock files with unknown or forgotten passwords.
  Additionally, Adobe Acrobat Pro is a paid tool, which may not be accessible to every user.

Solution 02: Best Automated Solution to Enable Print Option in Secured PDFs

If your PDF file is locked and you can’t print it even after trying all manual methods, then it’s time to go for a more efficient and reliable solution. The Aryson PDF Unlocker Tool is built exactly for this purpose. This tool helps you unlock it in just a few clicks. It supports both single and batch PDF unlocking. Hence, professionals who deal with multiple documents can use this. Also, it preserves the original formatting, layout, fonts, and images. With full compatibility across all PDF versions and a simple interface, it is easy for anyone to enable printing, copying, and editing features without technical effort.

Follow the Steps to Enable Print Option in PDF By Unlocking PDF File:

• Download the Aryson PDF Unlocker Tool, then launch it on your computer.
• Click on Add File or Add Folder to import the restricted PDF file. Hit Next.
• Choose from the available options if you want to modify or update PDF metadata.
• You can also set a new password for the unlocked file and manage attachments.
• Finally, click on the Unlock PDF button to remove all restrictions.

Note: Once you’ve successfully removed the restrictions from your PDF, you can easily make PDF Printable using Google Chrome. Now, open the locked PDF in Google Chrome, click Print, set the Destination, and hit the Save button in the top corner.

Solution 03: Using Adobe Reader to Enable Print Option in PDF

Adobe Reader is a trusted tool from Adobe used to view and print PDF files. But unlike Acrobat Pro, it doesn’t have advanced features to edit or unlock restricted PDFs.

• First, launch Adobe Reader on your system.
• Next, open the PDF file you want to print.
• Then, click on the Print icon from the top toolbar.
• After that, select your printer from the available options.
• Finally, click the Print button to attempt printing the document.

Conclusion

If you can’t print a PDF file, it’s usually because the file has been locked by the person who created it. You can use Adobe Reader to check the print settings, but it won’t let you remove the lock. Some quick tricks might help to enable print option in PDF. But they don’t always work, especially if the file is password protected. The easiest and most reliable way is to use the PDF Unlocker. It quickly removes the print restriction safely and without any trouble.

Frequently Asked Questions:-

About The Author:

Rohan Wiese

Rohan Wiese is a Technical Writer at Aryson Technologies. He is an expert Email Forensic, Cloud Computing, and a passionate nerd with over 10 years of experience in technical content writing. He writes about Cloud Migration, Database Recovery, Email Backup, Windows, Mac, and Tech.