How to Unlock PDF for Highlighting in Two Smart Ways?
If you have ever been in a situation where you cannot highlight text in a PDF document due to security then this blog is for you. It’s because here we have illustrated the best solution that will let you know how to unlock PDF for highlighting.
Highlighting PDF documents allows users to organize content and make others find important information quickly inside a lengthy document. Also, annotating PDF documents is the best way to draw attention to specific items. This PDF file highlighting, commenting, and annotating can be done with the help of Adobe Acrobat Reader or with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. But, sometimes people find that this highlighting tool is not working. The main reason behind this problem is a restriction on PDF files.
Whenever the files are protected with owner-level security certain actions are not allowed and one among them is PDF commenting. When the file is restricted from commenting it can’t be highlighted, commented on, or annotated. Therefore, to highlight text in protected PDFs and other permissions it is necessary to remove restrictions to highlight text in secured PDF.
Why Do Users Want to Enable PDF Highlighting?
“I downloaded the trial version of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC online & tried to highlight some PDF text using it. However, while doing this, I found that the Highlight tool is not working & it is greyed out. In addition to it the sign button is also disabled. However, I am not a frequent Adobe user & don’t know why this PDF highlight tool is not working. Can anyone tell me why I cannot highlight text in PDF?”
“I need to review some documents on an urgent basis. Although, I tried to add some comments and stick notes to it but it is not allowing me to do so. Therefore, I searched online and came to know about the main reason behind this problem i.e. “Restrictions”. So can anyone suggest a simple solution that would help me to remove restrictions from PDF documents?
Two Solutions to Unlock PDF for Highlighting
1- Using Adobe Acrobat Pro
2- Professional Software
Method 1: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC provides the functionality to remove PDF highlighting restrictions from PDF documents. Along with this, other security can also be removed but the Permission Password must be known for that restricted PDF file.
Now, if the permission password is known, then follow these steps:
1- Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
2- Choose Tools >> Protect >> Encrypt >> Remove Security.
3- Now, enter the permission password & click on the OK button.
4- Again click the OK button for confirmation.
5- Now, Click on the Save button & save the PDF document.
Now, you have successfully enabled highlighting in PDF documents.
Method 2: Professional Software to Highlight Text in Secured PDF
PDF Document Unlocker allows users to unlock PDF for highlighting. With this advanced program users can unsecure PDF files having owner-level security and user-level security. But, for removing the document open password security the password must be known to the user. Moreover, the utility supports unlocking several kinds of restrictions such as copy, edit, print, comment, sign, form filling, document assembly, page extraction, etc.
Along with this, it provides a direct option to print unlocked PDF files. Also, for keeping the original PDF file password in the resultant file the tool provides the option i.e. “Keep source PDF password in the output PDF”.
How to Unlock PDF for Highlighting Step-by-Step?
1- Launch and run the tool on the local system to enable PDF highlighting.
2- Click on Add Files / Add Folder option to insert PDF files.
3- Choose the desired option “Save” or “Print”. Click on the Change button & select the destination location.
4- Finally, hit the Unlock button and start the process to remove securities and let users highlight text in secured PDF files.
Now, navigate towards the destination location and view the unlocked PDF file. Now, open this file in Adobe Reader and you will find that you have successfully enabled PDF highlighting. Along with this, all the restrictions are successfully removed from PDF files and enable PDF highlighting.
Also Read: How to Download Images from PDF File – Get Instant Solution
Conclusion
In Adobe Reader & in Acrobat Pro DC commenting tools are only available for those PDF files which allow commenting permissions. But, sometimes these permissions are disabled due to owner-level security in PDF files. Therefore, to enable these permissions we have suggested two solutions that will let you know how to unlock PDF for highlighting. If the user has permission password & Adobe Acrobat Pro DC then they can select the manual solution (i.e. using Acrobat Pro DC). Otherwise, they can opt for professional software which does not require any external program to remove PDF highlighting restrictions.
