Tutorial Thursday
When it comes to PDF documents I’m not really one that likes to read them online. If they’re only about 10 or 15 pages I’ll go ahead and print them out to read later on when I’m away from my computer. However, some people remove the ability to print a PDF when it is created.
I’m against that sort of thing because if I can open and read the PDF, then I should be able to print it for reference later on. When I received a PDF last week that was like this I was determined to find a way to get around it.
Some ways I found included taking a screenshot of the whole document and then printing out the image, but that seemed like way too much work for both me and my printer (printing an image is much more intensive than printing a PDF). Then I found the exact freeware application that I was looking for: PDF Unlocker!
Unfortunately the homepage was removed for this program, but I was still able to find it on Download.com (Download Mirror). It removes 40 or 128–bit passwords from a PDF, including the one preventing you from printing, but you must be able to view the PDF. By that I mean the whole PDF can’t be password protected.
Here is an example document that I created with a screenshot of Google’s homepage. The red boxes show that printing has been disabled and that the document is considered “secure”:
After you get it setup here is what you want to do:
- Download and install PDF Unlocker.
- The installation should have created a shortcut on the desktop that has a key for an icon. Drag your protected PDF onto that icon:
- Now a screen will quickly flash, it doesn’t require any interaction on your part so just wait for the screen to disappear before proceeding:
- There will now be another PDF file in the same location as the protected one, and the only difference is the new one has “_no PW” attached on to the end of the filename. Double click on the new PDF to open it:
- Now enjoy all of the features that had been removed from the document, such as printing and page extraction (a.k.a. copy and paste functionality)!
Even though the process here is listed as being 5 steps, it will really only take a few seconds for you to complete it. This program has removed the burden and hassle of being able to only read certain PDF’s on my computer, so I thought that this was something that I had to share.
Of course, I guess I should say that you are not to use this in any illegal ways…yada yada. You know the drill.
Download the Freeware PDF Unlocker (visit the now deceased homepage of PDF Unlocker)
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Tags: CyberNotes, Freeware, Software, How To, Tips And Tricks
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I use a PDF to HTML converter, that way you can copy & paste text – Although it appears a bit dodgy sometimes.
Very nice, now, do you know of any other PDF tools that will unlock other protected capabilities? For example, some PDF allow you to enter text into form fields while other prevent it. I would rather type than write. Any one know of a way to unlock that capability?
I use Ghostscript / Ghostview for this task all the time. Ghostview is a GUI for the Ghostscript PDF engine. If you open a PDF file in Ghostview, then select Convert… you can save the PDF with no encryption / security and do whatever you want to it. I don’t know how well it works with forms, but I don’t see why you couldn’t do it. When you convert, there is a textbox to add options, which if you know the PDF protocol and the command line switches for security, you can calculate the appropriate number to add security features as you desire (i.e. no forms, printing allowed, but only low res). I believe the homepage for Ghostview / Ghostscript is [cs.wisc.edu]~ghost/.
This application might do that as well, because it says that it unlocks various protected aspects of a PDF, so that might be one of them.
Awesome, I’ll have to keep that in mind as well!
My problem is different. I have a pdf file which requires a username and password to open. I have the username and password and I was able to view the pdf file but thats about it. I cant print it, i cant save as, I cant copy and print screen does not work. Anybody please help me print it.
Lance
This trick might still work though, have you tried the PDF unlocker?
If you just want to print the print-protected pdf, try Copistar.
I downloaded this pdf unlocker but had an undesirable outcome. The document I wanted to unlock consisted of 27 pages. Unlocker created new file that only had the first 4 pages… ???
I’m guessing that there was something on the 4th page that it wasn’t able to handle properly. Maybe a complex image or something?
Thanks a lot, it worked. I appreciate it.
Ghostprint/Ghostview solved the problem for me when PDF unlocker wouldn’t work. Thanks for the tip, kiltboy.
Thanks so much … was a great help
Thanks so much- pdf unlocker worked perfectly and only took 15 seconds to unlock 240 pages.
I am trying to unlock a pdf that was saved to a disk
I tried the unlocker but it will not send the file back to the disk because it is write protected and I cannot copy the pdf from the disk because it says that it is corrupt if I do. The only thing I am really trying to do is view this file from a usb cd drive and because it thinks it is a copy it wont open. Anyone with ideas I would love to hear them Thanks 
If you can’t copy the file from the disk it sounds like you’re having a different problem. Unfortunately I don’t know of any programs that could help with getting the file off of the disk.
Thanks I came to that conclusion to
I hate giving up on it but cant find any way to get it off. Guess I’ll have to call the company that sent it and complain. Thanks for all the good info though 
I tried to unlock a PDF that’s 260 pages and nothing happens. I drop it into the unlocker and when I open the new one with no PW, it’s only a blank page…am I doing something wrong?
It is absolutely awesome. Thanks a lot for such a good piece of advice. I have tried many ways to print out a PDF file but to no avail until I ran into this site. GREAT !!!!
Thank you
i love the method very easy thank u
Thanks a ton. It works!
WOW.. this is great.. I was looking to print this pdf document which I can view, but it didnt’ allow me. I find it stupid too that when they give everybody access to view it, they should give the option to print as well.
I had to take a membership of around 120 dollars, which I will take eventually.. but ths print option gave me sometime to take the membership.. thanks for ur help.. appreciate it.
this pdf converter doesn’t work for me, someone mentioned ghost view/ ghost script. i went to that site but it is very complicated, i am not sure how to proceed. can someone expert help with some step by step procedure. thanks a lot.
THANK YOU< THANK YOU< THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, works a treat!
Thank you. Nice guide. Information must be free
OMG!!! Just made my life 100 times better!!!! Thanks!
Program works like a charm. Keep up the good work!
IT DIDN’T WORK:evil: My pdf file was of 39MB it can’t release the print protected permissions…..
Well, It worked for me.
@ashok: probably your pdf has a strong password.
Thanks very much.
Worked for me very well.
Absolutely wonderful! Thank you very much
I was in a bind to print a protected PDF document before an upcoming meeting. I found this site thru Google,downloaded the freeware, and printed the document all in about ten minutes or less. Thank you Ryan! R.C.
didn’t work for me but i think it’s b/c i have a mac. copistar is also only for windows.
is there anything for mac OS? thanks!
My prof protects all his files so you can’t print them. The only way to get the handout is to be in class that day or beg someone to let you photocopy theirs. This freeware program solved my problem in under 10 mins. Muah ha ha, take that prof!
cant download the PDF unlocker..where do I get it? the link in article take sto divshare which asks you to sign up and then nothing there
Try here: [freeware-pdf-unlocker.en.softonic.com]