How to Enable Content Copying in PDF – Free & Pro Ways

Mark Regan
Published: August 22nd, 2024 • 9 Min Read

Are you seeking the best solution for the query of being unable to copy text from PDF? If yes, stay tuned with us till the end of the blog. PDF (Portable document format) that is widely used to share and store information with several platforms. The major reason behind its high user base is PDF formatting and security features which remain intact across several platforms. Today, in this digital column we will delve deep to explain how to enable content copying in PDF.

Types of Security & Permissions in PDF Documents

Password Protection: – If your document is protected with password protection. Then, you need to enter the appropriate credentials to open your document.
User Permissions: – The PDF file owner imposes some special restrictions on the document to prevent users from applying some operations. Below is the list of user permissions applied to the document.
- Commenting: – This permission determines whether the user can add comments, annotations, or markups to the document. This functionality of the PDF document allows users to collaborate on the document without altering the original formatting.
- Content Copying: – This permission allows the user to copy content such as text or images from the PDF document. If users are unable to copy text from PDF documents. It means that the owner has prevented content-copying permission for the document.
- Content Copying for Accessibility: – This permission allows content copying specifically for accessibility purposes. This permission is for users with disability in reading and viewing the document. Enabling this liberty provides equal accessibility for users who depend on the technology.
- Editing File Content: – This permission governs whether the user can edit the file content or not. If this permission is enabled, users are not permitted to edit the file content.
- Printing: – This permission allows users to print the document. Generally, PDF documents with such restrictions. The user needs to enter the owner’s password to take the printout of the document.
- Signing: – This permission decides whether the user has the appropriate authorization to e-sign the document.

How to Check for Permissions in PDF with Microsoft Edge

Users can effortlessly check the permission of the PDF using the Edge web browser. To do so, first, you need to locate and open the required PDF file with the Edge browser. Thereafter, you are required to click on the hyperlink for “View Permissions” below the ribbon. Next, after clicking the hyperlink you can easily see the file permission on your desktop screen.

Till now we have gathered the basic information regarding the PDF permission and how to check them. Now we will move forward to learn the DIY methods.

How to Enable Content Copying in PDF: Manual Method

You can enable content copying in PDF manually with the help of Google Drive, Microsoft Edge Browser, Adobe Acrobat Reader Pro, etc. The manual method involves various steps. To resolve your query of PDF content copying not allowed. Let’s look forward to the detailed structure guide for each one by one.

Enable Content Copying in PDF with Adobe Acrobat

If you are facing a problem when content copying not allowed in PDF & you need to enable it. You can effortlessly do it by downloading Adobe Acrobat on your desktop. However, it is a very high resource-consuming utility. Let’s uncover the main working steps of the tool to enable PDF copy option.

At the start, install and run Adobe Acrobat Reader Pro on your PC.
Next, locate & open the PDF file with Adobe Acrobat Reader Pro.
Now, tap on the “File ” menu from the upper right corner of the software panel.
After that, go to “Properties ” from the drop-down menu & choose “Security “.
Then, select the “security method ” as “No Security ” and Click “OK ” to save settings.
Finally, go to “File > Save As ” and choose the desired location of the output file on your PC.

Steps to Allow Content Copying in PDF with Google Drive

First, insert the file from which you are unable to copy text from PDF to Google Drive.
Next, locate the inserted document on your Google Drive account.
Now, right-click on the file and choose Open with Google Docs.
Then, go to the File menu and select Download > PDF Document (.pdf).
Finally, open the downloaded file to check content copying in PDF enabled.

Enable Content Copying in PDF with Microsoft Edge

Initially, locate the document on your local desktop.
Next, right-click on the file and select Open with Microsoft Edge.
Then, click on the Print option from the top left corner of the Edge Browser.
After that, select the Printer as Microsoft Print to PDF from the drop-down menu.
Now, click on the Print button & write the File name then tap on the Save button.

Limitations of Using the Manual Methods

You can only enable content copying option with Adobe Acrobat if you own the Pro version. Without having the Pro version, you can only open the file with the software.
Using Google Drive to enable PDF copy option, may result in a loss of formatting of the actual document. Since it involves the conversion of file formats.
We do not recommend using Microsoft Edge to overcome your problem of being unable to copy text from a PDF. Since it involves the repetition of the same steps when handling bulk files.
Enterprise users should not use the manual methods because they are very time-consuming. Additionally, it may result in the loss of formatting in crucial documents.
To use the Microsoft Edge technique to overcome the issue of content copying not allowed in PDF, you should enable the Print permission.

Automated Tool to Allow Content Copying in PDF

Using the best PDF unlocker software can help you overcome your problem of content copying not allowed in PDF. This utility is developed to work fluidly from a single-panel interface. Moreover, this utility can bulk-process PDF files to allow PDF content copying option. Additionally, this utility has its self-explanatory UI/UX that doesn’t require any prior training to operate the tool.

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How to Enable Content Copying in PDF with Expert Utility

Initially, install and run the recommended software on your desktop.
Click on the “Import ” button to insert the content copying the disabled PDF to the tool.
Next, tap on the “Save As ” button to choose the output location of the resultant data.
Now, click on “Unlock PDF ” to start the process of enabling content copying in PDF.
Then, the tool will ask for the user password if it is enabled on any selected PDF.
Finally, wait for the process to enable PDF copy option to be completed.

Top Differences Between Manual Vs Automatic Methodology

Criteria	Manual Method	Automatic Approach
Ease of Use	Using manual techniques may require repetitive steps and technical knowledge. Moreover, software like Adobe Acrobat consumes very high system resources.	Simple single-window tool that provides ease of use without consuming many system resources
Surety	Does not work with some cases like when print permission is enabled.	100% surety to resolve PDF content copying not allowed problem.
Effect on Formatting	Manual techniques like using Google Drive may affect in original formatting of the document.	The manual approach to enable content copying in PDF is a completely tested and programmed method. Never affect on original formatting of the document.
Time	Very time-consuming process, not suggested for enterprise users.	A fast and reliable solution to allow content copy option in an automated way
Bulk Processing	Does not support bulk- processing of documents to enable content copying in PDF	Provides support to the user to process files in bulk mode while keeping the data integrated.

Conclusion

To sum up the above digital column we have explored how to enable content copying in PDF both using manual and automatic approaches. Additionally, we have gained proper knowledge, about the types of permissions in PDF documents, and how to view them using the Microsoft Edge browser. Secondly, we have seen that the manual methods have some disadvantages. Thereafter, we have disclosed the automated technique, to overcome the problem of being unable to copy text from PDF. Finally, we have discovered the working steps of expert utility, along with the key differences b/w manual and automated approaches.

Commonly Raised Questions

Q1) Can’t copy content from PDF?

If you are facing a problem in copying content from PDF. It means that content copying is not allowed in PDF. To make it enable you need to convert secured PDF to unsecured. Please read the above-mentioned techniques to do so.

Q2) How do I enable copy text in PDF?

To enable copy text in PDF you need to enable the content option of the PDF document. You can do it both manually and automatically.

Q3) How do I fix disabled copy and paste in PDF?

To fix the problem first check for the enable permission using the above-discussed method. Next, use the manual or automatic approach to remove restrictions from PDF

Q4) How do you copy-paste if it is disabled for multiple PDFs at once?

You can use the above-mentioned programmed tool methodology to enable copy-paste if it is disabled. Please go through the automatic working steps to get the solution to your problem.