

Any interactivity in the previous PDF document (such as fillable forms, comments, etc.) may be lost in the new document, and must be created again. Please note that this method will result in a new PDF document being created, rather than editing the original one. If you have a signed PDF document with a PDF, and you’re unable to remove the signature this is the method for you.
#CANNOT EDIT PDF AFTER SIGNING SOFTWARE#
The methods we show to edit signed PDFs will also refer to PDFs with digital signatures that are unable to have their digital signatures removed (due to PDF software limitations, forgotten password, unknown previous signee, etc.), since PDFs with typed or handwritten signatures are straightforward to edit by using a PDF editor. Note: In this article, we’ll refer to digitally signed PDF documents as “signed PDFs” for simplicity’s sake. This method provides additional security since it can prove if a document has been modified or changed after it was digitally signed. PDFs with a digital signature take things a step further by using encryption technology to sign and authenticate a PDF document, rather than typing or handwriting. Whether the document was signed, then scanned as a PDF, or the document was received electronically, and signed by typing, drawing a signature, or uploading an image of your personal signature, both result in a similarly signed PDF document.Ģ. PDFs with a typed or handwritten signature can be compared to a paper document that’s been signed with pen.
#CANNOT EDIT PDF AFTER SIGNING HOW TO#
We’ll show you how to edit signed PDF documents easily and quickly. However, sometimes it may be necessary to edit a signed PDF document. “The document may contain a digital signature.”ĭigitally-signed PDFs are more secure than the average PDF document, and having a digital signature can help prove the authenticity of a document. “This document has been signed and cannot be edited.” We have more details about flattening form fields in our user guide.įlattening a PDF can not be undone so if you plan on continuing to work with the form fields, make sure to keep the original form and save the flattened form as a new document (using File -> Save As).Digital signatures add an extra layer of security to PDFs, but how do you edit signed PDFs? We’ll show you two easy ways. You can flatten form fields by going to Forms -> Flatten all fields. When flattened, fields will be painted directly in the content of the page to which they belong and will no longer be interactive and editable.

Refer to our user guide for more information about options available under the Document Security dialog.įlattening form fields will flatten all fields in the form. Reopen the document and try to create/edit the form, a message will be displayed indicating that the document’s permissions do not allow you to edit forms.

Select OK to confirm and Save the documentĥ. Check “Password to Change Permissions” checkbox and set the permission password.Ĥ. Un-check “Allow Filling Form Fields & Signing”.Ĥ. Click Edit button to open the “Change Document Security” dialogģ. Go to File -> Document Properties and select Security tab.Ģ. Method 1: Use Document Security and Set Permissions on the PDF Formġ. Q: Is there a way to make an interactive PDF form non-editable and make sure that fields data on the form can not be changed?Ī: You can make a PDF form non-editable by either using Document Permissions (Method 1 below) or by flattening the form fields (Method 2 below).
