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How to Remove PDF Restrictions? Try Free & Secure Ways

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Published By Nilesh Kumar
Debasish Pramanik
Approved By Debasish Pramanik
Published On August 21st, 2025
Reading Time 14 Minutes Reading
Category PDF Tips

PDF documents are popular among work professionals and school or college students today. This document format serves all purposes, from easy sharing to handing a wide range of information. In many instances, users apply different modes of restrictions to limit access. Since these permissions hinder the workflow, follow this guide if you’re searching for how to remove PDF restrictions instantly. Here, we provide comprehensive methods, including free online and advanced ways to bypass PDF permissions using the best PDF Restriction Remover tools. So, let’s discover the ethical way of removing the document permissions.

Table of Contents

  1. Understanding of PDF Document Restriction
  2. Why Remove PDF Permissions?
  3. How to Remove Restrictions from PDF – Try 5 PDF Restriction Remover
  4. Limitations of Manual Method to Remove Restriction from PDF File
  5. Why Not to Use Online PDF Restriction Remover Tools?
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQs on Remove PDF Restrictions

What is a PDF Document Restriction and What Are Its Types?

To protect the data in the digital world, applying restrictions is not just a preventive step, but an everyday necessity. Here comes the need for PDF Restrictions—a way to set security permissions to limit direct access. It is typically known as the owner’s permission password to ensure what action the viewer can perform. Moreover, there are different modes of PDF document restrictions. This way, owners can provide a limited permit instead of the whole content. The purpose of applying the permissions is:

  • Safeguard the sensitive information from misuse, tampering, and edits.
  • Preventing the intentional or unintentional alteration of a PDF document.
  • Restrict unethical or malicious access to modify or share the PDF file with others.
  • Keep the original data after sharing with multiple users or teams.
  • Ensure data security and privacy while meeting GDPR and HIPAA rights or regulations.

Below are the major types of PDF restrictions for limiting file access:

  • Editing & Altering Restriction: It prevents viewers from modifying and editing the information in the PDF.
  • Content Repurposing & Copying: This restriction limits users from copying or misusing the content for malicious intent or purposes.
  • PDF Page Printing: The permission turns off printing or sharing the document for offline use.
  • Document Assembly: It turns off combining or editing the PDF document when sharing it.

These are the restrictions placed to secure the highly sensitive content from misuse and alteration by any malicious user.
Despite the benefits, it equally hinders your productivity and work. Many users seek ways to remove PDF restrictions to access the file for free. Moreover, it highlights the need for an advanced PDF Restriction Remover to disable the permissions. Now, let’s first understand the reasons for removing restrictions.

Why Remove PDF Permissions?

Applying the PDF restrictions is useful only for securing the data. In other cases, it offers challenges or delays the workflow. Removing the PDF permissions provides easy access, where you don’t need to depend on anyone. Plus, you can decide to make necessary changes in the PDF document. Here are the potential reasons to bypass PDF file permissions:

  • Get Edit Access: PDFs are often secured with editing access. Moreover, the restriction makes changing the text or adding new information problematic. Here, you need tools like PDF Permission Remover to get the right tools to alter the PDF document instantly.
  • Repurpose the PDF Document: Removing the applied permissions lets viewers repurpose, change, and use the content without asking for access. This way, users can easily use the data in new or existing documents.
  • Share the PDF Document for Free: The restricted PDFs prevent users from downloading, sharing, and printing the pages. In several scenarios where you need to share the PDF with a team. Since the restrictions increase the frustration, here, removing the limited permissions allows anyone to make legitimate changes.

Overall, these are common reasons to remove document restrictions PDF. Tools like PDF Permission Remover are the best and most secure way of removing existing PDF restrictions. So, let’s dive in to discover the methods.

How to Remove Restrictions from PDF – Best 6 PDF Restriction Remover

If you’re searching for how to remove PDF restrictions instantly, here are the top 5 PDF Permissions Removal solutions to try. We have covered everything from online to offline tools for your different needs. Using these tools, you can convert restricted PDF to unrestricted document without compromising data.
Here are the 6 effective techniques to remove PDF permissions:

  1. Remove Restriction on PDF Online
  2. Google Chrome to Bypass Permissions
  3. Adobe Acrobat Pro for Turning Off PDF Restrictions
  4. Try the Command-Line Tool for Removing Protection
  5. Microsoft Edge to Disable Permissions
  6. PDF Permission Remover – The Fastest Way

Now, let’s learn about these techniques in detail.

#1 How to Remove PDF Restrictions Online – Try Free PDF Platforms

To remove permissions from PDF, try free online PDF tools for removing the unwanted limited access from the document. These online websites are quick, free, and useful for all. Moreover, there is no need for other tools like Adobe Acrobat Pro to disable permissions. Most importantly, these platforms offer an interactive and functional interface without technical obstacles.

Using the free websites, you can disable permissions like editing, text copying, printing, republishing, and more. Additionally, it lets users delete the open document passkey. Here are the popular PDF Restriction Remover online websites:

  • iLovePDF
  • PDF24 Tools
  • Smallpdf
  • PDFCrack

Follow the steps for how to remove restrictions from PDF online:

  1. On your mobile or PC, search for these online tools.
  2. Drag & Drop” the restricted PDF document in the dashboard.
  3. Enter the restricted password and then, press Unlock.
  4. Now, download the unrestricted PDF document.

Of course! Online PDF tools are useful, but there are various limitations. Firstly, uploading the PDF file to an online server is highly risky. Secondly, anytime the website makes your data online and accessible to everyone. Moreover, professionals need to provide legitimate access to these websites, resulting in data compromise. Additionally, it can further modify the text formatting and file integrity. So, don’t rely on websites that remove online PDF permissions.

#2 How to Remove Permissions from PDF Using Google Chrome

If you’re looking for how to bypass PDF permissions, try Google Chrome to modify the document restrictions. It is another free way of removing restrictions from the PDF files. Below is the step-by-step guidance on how to remove restrictions from PDF using Chrome:

  1. Right-click on the PDF file.
  2. Then, choose Open with > Google Chrome. This will open the PDF file in Chrome.
    open with chrome
  3. Now, click on the Print icon on the top-right corner or simply press the Ctrl+P key.
  4. Select the Save as PDF option in Destination and click the Save button.
    save as pdf
  5. Choose where you want to save the PDF file without permissions and click the Save button.
  6. Now, you can open this newly saved PDF file and check its Properties to see the allowed permissions.

Google Chrome is considered a free way of removing permissions. However, some barriers might hinder your productivity. Moreover, Chrome is a dedicated web browser, so it can’t provide the advanced features like PDF Permission Remover. There is a chance of data leakage, misuse, and other errors. So, use the ideal solutions for removing permissions.

#3 Adobe Acrobat Pro Tool to Remove PDF Restrictions

Adobe Acrobat Pro is commonly featured as premium and powerful software for removing document restrictions. You can easily strip out all the owners’ permissions using this cutting-edge tool in one go. It allows you to review limited restrictions under the document restrictions summary.
Compared to online and other tools, it is reliable and professionally trusted software for Windows or macOS. This way, you can turn off the permissions and get legitimate access to content. Below are the detailed steps to change “PDF has limited permissions” Using the Adobe Acrobat tool:

  1. Add the PDF to the Adobe Acrobat Tool.
    tab adobe acrobat software
  2. Use the File feature > Tools and then, Encrypt.
  3. In the Security section, use the Remove Security feature.
    select the remove security option
  4. Enter the necessary passkey > remove it.
  5. Lastly, I saved the PDF without any permissions.

Adobe Acrobat is a standalone and secure way of bypassing PDF restrictions. Conversely, this is an expensive tool based on premium plans. The pricing structure might impact your work, whether you’re a professional or a small business entity. So, look for other cost-effective and productive tools.

#4 How to Change Restrictions from PDF File Using Advanced Command-Line Tools

Command-line tools are easily accessible for a professional person who has complete knowledge of PC and can easily remove password restrictions from PDF files.
To remove restrictions from a PDF file using the command prompt we can use the open-source tool called qpdf. Steps to Remove PDF Document Restrictions using QPDF.

  • Download and Install qpdf (https://qpdf.sourceforge.net/) from the official website.
  • Open the Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key + R, type “cmd” in the Run dialog box, and then press Enter.
  • Navigate through the directory by using the cd command which contains the PDF file
  • Run the qpdf command to remove restrictions from the PDF file

Copy the code

qpdf –password=”<password>” –decrypt <input_file.pdf> <output_file.pdf>

  • Replace the following details in your device to Remove Restrictions from PDF
  • <password>: If the PDF file has a password then type the password or if it doesn’t have a password then remove the password –password=”<password>” part.
  • <input_file.pdf>: The name of the original, restricted PDF file.
  • <output_file.pdf>: The name you want to give to the unrestricted PDF file.
  • If your official PDF file is”restricted.pdf” and you want to unrestricted them then copy the below code.

qpdf –decrypt restricted.pdf unrestricted.pdf

  • Or, if the original PDF file is password-protected with the password “yourpassword”:

qpdf –password=”mypassword” –decrypt restricted.pdf unrestricted.pdf

  • After the following code, you have the new PDF file in the same folder without any restrictions.

Note: Remove Password restrictions from a PDF file is illegal or violate the terms of use for certain documents. Make sure you have the necessary rights before going to restrict them

#5 How to Remove PDF Permissions Using Edge

To disable a PDF document restrictions, use Microsoft Edge. It is free and another way of removing the unwanted permissions instantly. Here a stepwise guide to change PDF restrictions using Edge:

  1. Access the secured PDF with Edge.
  2. Look for Print and then choose Microsoft Print and press Print.

Remember: If the PDF contain print restrictions, the method becomes unresponsive. Hence, you need to switch to an advanced PDF file restriction remover to bypass PDF print restriction legitimately.

Limitations of the Manual Method to Remove Restriction from PDF File

While manual solutions for remove permissions from PDF files may seem convenient, they come with their fair share of risks and limitations.

  1. If you have multiple PDF files, then the process will take a lot of time since you will need to process only one PDF at a time.
  2. Uploading sensitive documents to online platforms almost always exposes confidential information to unknown third parties.
  3. Online tools can lead to potential data breaches. You do not have any control over the security protocols of the online tools.
  4. You cannot print an encrypted PDF file if it has print restrictions on it.
  5. Online tools are entirely reliant on a stable internet connection.
  6. Legal and ethical concerns are there to unauthorized access.
  7. Purchasing the Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is very expensive.
  8. Online tools impose limitations on file size and the number of files you can process.

Manually removing PDF restrictions is very difficult with the above method so we have elite advice for you which can easily solve your all problem in one quick step.

#6 Best PDF Restriction Remover to Remove Restrictions from PDF Document

PDF Password Remover Tool is a professional solution to directly remove security restrictions from PDF. It ensures that the PDF file is free from all kinds of restrictions, whether access restriction, edit restriction or print restriction. Users can even choose to keep the document open restriction but remove all others. The tool also unlock password protected PDF files with and without passwords. One of the best things about this tool is it maintains the quality and originality of PDF files after removing all foundations from the PDF file. For every issue, you can break the PDF document password; there is a dedicated method that can be used.

Note: If you remove all the constraint from your PDFs, then it is accessible by anyone. Now, to secure your crucial documents you need to add constraint. For the same, the PDF Lock Tool will help by providing you with a robust security measure.

Why Not to Use Online PDF Restriction Remover Tools?

Almost all PDF issues have online solutions i.e., tools that you do not need to download to carry out the task. While they may seem easy, most professionals and security experts do not recommend using online tools. In fact, they also do not remove all permissions from PDF documents online. After all, it has many concerns such as:

  • Privacy Concerns:- You are uploading your sensitive PDF files to third-party servers, so you have no control over who is viewing and storing your data.
  • Security Risks:- Most online platforms do not have robust security measures in place. Thus, your sensitive data may be at risk of being leaked or hacked.
  • Limited Features:- Most online platforms lack advanced features. Also, you can only process one file at a time, and exceeding a certain file size limit is not possible.
  • No Support:- You will not get any technical support from the online platform in case of any issue with the tool.
Conclusion

PDF file users often fall into a situation where they are required to remove PDF restrictions instantly. In other cases, users need to perform some action on a secured PDF but fail to do so. Hence, they are looking for a solution to remove permission from PDF files. This guide explains the best methods to remove all permissions from PDF files and make them permissions-free. The manual method is pretty easy and free as long as the PDF document doesn’t have a certain restriction. On the other hand, a dedicated tool like PDF Permission Remover is the best when it comes to removing security restrictions from PDF documents regardless of their type.

Frequently Asked Questions on PDF Permission Remover Tool

Q1. How to remove restriction from PDF files using Adobe Acrobat?

Ans. First thing first, you will require the paid version of Adobe Acrobat to do this task. The exact set of steps are as follows:

  1. Open the PDF file in paid Acrobat software (Pro or DC Pro).
  2. Then, go to Tools > Protect > Encrypt > Remove Security.
  3. Enter the restrictions password and click OK to delete it.
  4. Once done, save the PDF file.
  5. With this, you have successfully remove password restrictions from PDF file.

Q2: Can I use the above-mentioned methods to remove user-level password from multiple PDF files?

Yes, you can use any of the methods discussed in this post to delete permissions password from PDF file.

Q3: How to process multiple documents at once to remove Permissions from PDF?

You can use the above method to get rid of all PDF permissions from multiple PDF files in bulk.

Q4: Is it legal to remove restrictions from PDF file?

As long as there are no copyright issues, and you do not use the PDF for commercial purposes, it is generally legal to remove PDF document restrictions. But, do make sure to refer to the local laws and the purpose of the PDF documents to keep clear of legal issues.

  author

By Nilesh Kumar

As a Chief Technical Writer, I know the technical issues faced by home and professional users. So, I decided to share all my knowledge via this blog. I love to help you with challenges while dealing with technical jargon.