How to Make a PDF Non Editable in Easy Steps

It's natural that you want your PDF file not to be modified by others. After all, the PDF format is made to present documents independent of software, hardware, and operating systems. This necessity could arise in various scenarios, such as preserving the original format of a legal document, keeping a project proposal's content intact, preventing critical information from being tampered with, etc. 

If you're looking for ways on how to make a PDF non editable, you've come to the right place. This article will guide you through the process of making your PDF documents non editable, both with and without the use of passwords. Let's dive in.

It's a surefire way to prevent unauthorized editing by protecting your PDF documents with passwords. iTop PDF is a reliable PDF editing software you can get for free. This easy-to-use PDF editor offers a complete range of solutions for PDF editing, allowing you to secure your PDF documents efficiently and effectively.

iTop PDF brings to the table a host of features designed to make your PDF editing process a breeze. Here are some highlight features you may like.

● Free to make a PDF non editable with passwords: iTop PDF is our answer to the question about how to make a PDF non fillable for free. Many PDF editors will charge for premium features, while iTop PDF allows you to secure your PDF documents at no cost.

● Straightforward and easy to use for beginners: iTop PDF is designed with beginners in mind. This PDF editor has an intuitive user interface and a clear layout. iTop PDF makes PDF editing simple, even for novice users who ask how to make a pdf no longer editable for the first time.

● Multiple ways to protect PDF files: As a versatile PDF editor, iTop PDF provides a set of solutions for your various PDF-related needs. Whether you need to make a PDF non editable or non fillable, iTop PDF has covered with a variety of protection options. You can also add watermark to PDF to protect your files from unauthorized usage.

● Other helpful PDF editing tools: In addition to making PDFs non editable, iTop PDF offers additional tools to deal with various PDF editing needs. Let you feel free to compress PDF without losing quality or convert PDF format. It even has a web app to let you compress PDF online.

How to Make a PDF Non Editable with iTop PDF

Securing your PDF with iTop PDF is as easy as one-two-three. Here's a simple guide on how to make a fillable PDF non editable with iTop PDF.

Step 1. Download iTop PDF by clicking the download button below. It's free and has no malware.

What makes iTop PDF a must-have software?

• Edit PDF smoothly without hassle
• Convert PDF to any format in high quality
• Split and Merge PDF files easily and quickly
• Add e-signature effortlessly to your PDF

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Step 2. Open the program after the installation. To load the PDF file you wish to make non-editable, click the Open PDF button on the main interface.

Step 3. Navigate to Protect > Encrypt from the top menu bar. Enter your desired password in the pop-out box. Once the password is set, your PDF file will become non editable.

Passwords are good but you'll always need them for future edits. If you're looking for a way to make a PDF non editable without using a password, one alternative way is to convert PDF to JPG or other formats. While this method won't prevent people from copying or exporting the document's content, it will restrict editing of the text and graphics. As a bonus, iTop PDF also allows you to convert your PDF to JPG.

How to Make a PDF Non Editable by Converting it to Images

Here are the steps on how to make PDF non editable without password protected by converting it to images.

• Step 1. Launch iTop PDF. Use the Open PDF button to import the PDF file you wish to make non editable. You can also drag and drop it into the program.

• Step 2. Go to Convert > To Image from the top menu bar. Then you can choose JPG or PNG as the output format as per your needs.

• Step 3. Choose the desired location to save your image file. Once saved, your PDF content will now be in image format and will be non editable.

Adobe Acrobat is another tool that can help you make a PDF non editable. However, Adobe Acrobat is not free. And it tends to be more expensive compared to other PDF editing software like iTop PDF. But still, Adobe Acrobat is the industry standard choice if you don't mind a monthly subscription.

How to Make a PDF Non Editable with Adobe

Here's how to save a pdf as non editable using Adobe Acrobat.

• Step 1. Launch Adobe Acrobat and open the PDF file you want to make non editable.

• Step 2. Navigate to Protect > Tools tab. Select Protect, and then choose the Encrypt with Password option.

• Step 3. In the Password Security Settings dialog box, set the permissions password and confirm it. Then, select what actions will be restricted, and click OK.

How do I remove editable fields from a PDF?

A lot of PDF editors like iTop PDF can help with removing editable fields. It has an inbuilt OCR feature that allows you to edit the existing content in a PDF document. Launch this PDF editor and open the PDF file with the program. Then you can select any fields you don't want and press Delete on your keyboard to get them removed.

How do I convert a PDF to non editable in Word?

Microsoft Word offers an option to save your documents in PDF format. To convert a PDF to non editable in Word, you can save the document as a PDF, and then protect it using a PDF editing program like iTop PDF.

How do I save a PDF as non editable online?

There are numerous online PDF editors that can help you make a PDF non editable, such as Adobe Online, Sejda, pdfFiller, etc. However, considering the file security issue of web-based tools, desktop software is more recommended. 

The Bottom Line

Understanding how to make a PDF non editable is essential for document protection. With tools like iTop PDF, you can easily secure your PDF files and prevent unauthorized editing. Whether you choose to use passwords or convert your PDF to an image, iTop PDF provides you with a variety of options to make your fillable PDF non editable. Enjoy a seamless PDF editing experience with iTop PDF, where your document security is a top priority. It can also delete pages from PDF, annotate PDF content, OCR PDF and fix other PDF editing issues.