Why Can’t Copy Text from PDF File – Enable Content Copying
PDF has become the ordinary medium for quickly copying, and printing documents. Picture this: what if it can’t copy text from PDF? Certainly, it is frustrating and triggers the inaccessibility of files. Typically, PDFs are non-editable but allow you to select and paste the content. Here, issues like Adobe PDF content copying not allowed might annoy you, especially your task. Reading this guide, you may know why and how to fix being unable to copy text from PDF.
Why Can’t I Copy Text from PDF?
PDFs are the most versatile and indispensable files. For professionals, it is more like a business document format. Sometimes many of you attempt to copy text from a PDF file but it seems like can’t copy and paste from PDF file.
There are myriad reasons for not copying content from a document. Here are a few causes, take a look below:
Read-Only PDF: Often PDF files come with document restrictions like read-only. In this case, it introduces issues such as PDF content copying not allowed. Hence, users can read the content instead of copying, editing, or printing it.
Secured PDF File: If the PDF is protected with security or strong encryption, you can’t copy text from secured PDF. Moreover, these restrictions are mainly imposed by the creator to prevent unwanted data tampering or editing of files.
Corrupted or Damaged PDF: The issue of can’t copy text from PDF happens if the document is corrupted. These files got damaged when using the unstable connection for downloading the PDF which triggers misplacement of elements and fonts leading to file corruption.
Image-Based PDF: Either the PDF is scanned or based on text-image, it certainly displays errors like content copying not allowed in PDF. It might occur if you have taken a screenshot from the original source.
PDF Restricted by DRM: Confidential documents are protected by advanced DRM protection. It allows you to secure information from extraction, copying, pasting, etc. To access the PDF content, you need to disable these DRM restrictions.
Overall, these are the causes behind Adobe PDF content copying not allowed. Now, you might be wondering how to enable content copying in PDF. So, let’s walk through the stepwise guide to resolve the issue of PDF does not allow copying.
How to Fix Can’t Copy Text from PDF – 3 Easy Fixes
The issue of “can’t copy and paste from PDF” offers bad consequences and impacts on your workflow. After understanding the root causes, here are the easy methods to resolve the error of Adobe PDF content copying not allowed, allowing you to copy content from ordinary PDFs.
Here is how to disable the “PDF does not allow copying” error:
1. PDF OCR to Copy Text from Image-Based PDFs
2. Acrobat DC to Fix PDF Content Copying Not Allowed
3. SysTools Pro Tool to Resolve PDF Does Not Allow Copying
Now, let’s learn stepwise guidance in a detailed manner.
PDF Content Copying Not Allowed – Use PDF OCR Tool
The problem of can’t copy and paste from PDF might happen if the document is scanned, making the text into an image. To convert the image-based content into searchable or copy text, try PDF OCR or optical character recognition tools. This software automatically analyzes the image text and translates it into readable text.
Moreover, there are various online OCR tools available that allow you to upload and convert the document into a text-selectable file. Here are steps to fix can’t select text in PDF using online OCR tools:
- Search for online OCR tools.
- Upload the image-image PDF.
- Now, press the convert button.
Sounds Easy! Unfortunately, it is incorporated with a high risk of a data breach or compromise. Hence, you need to be cautious while using these online tools to enable content copying in PDF when facing issues like PDF content copying not allowed.
Try Acrobat Tool to Fix Can’t Copy Text from PDF
Unlike OCR tools, Acrobat DC is a powerful solution and commonly known as the ultimate fix for Adobe PDF content copying not allowed. Copying content can become impossible due to restrictions like read-only or do not copy text. Luckily, using this pro software, you can remove permissions from PDF file including copying.
In this way, you can get copyable and text-selectable PDF documents. Here’s how to resolve PDF does not allow copying or PDF won’t let me copy errors:
- Open the Acrobat DC on your system.
- Select the File option to add the PDF file.
- Right-click on file > pick the Properties option.
- Find the Security section > choose No Security.
- After this, add a password if it requires > press OK.
In this way, you can fix the issue of can’t copy and paste text from PDF file. It allows you to copy the text from unprotected PDF documents with ease. Additionally, you can use this software on both Windows and Mac OS.
SysTools PDF Protection Disabled Tool to Fix PDF Content Copying Not Allowed Issue
Facing problems like “PDF won’t let me copy”, don’t worry! This issue mainly happens if the document is secured with strong security. To enable content copying in PDF, download the SysTools PDF Unlocker Tool, built-in for both Windows and Mac OS. It is commonly known as the best alternative to Adobe Acrobat DC tool.
This amazing software lets you remove known or owner-level protections simultaneously. This allows you to clear text restrictions, including copying, printing, sharing, etc. Additionally, it has the feature to add multiple documents to fix can’t copy text from PDF errors with ease.
Other prime features of this tool include auto-scanning the protected PDF files. Additionally, it allows you to secure the document’s integrity and text information. So, download this robust utility to prevent issues like PDF does not allow copying in the future.
Quick Steps to Enable Content Copying in PDF
- Download SysTools Pro Software to copy content from PDF.
- Tab Add Files to upload the problematic PDF document.
- Scroll down > select Save under the Destination Path.
- Select Change to save the path of the resultant file.
- Lastly, hit Unlock to fix can’t copy and paste from PDF i.e. protected.
Fortunately, it is a secure and reliable way to enable content copying in PDF when struggling with the issue of Adobe PDF content copying not allowed. In this way, you can select, copy, and share the PDF without any risk or glitches.
FAQs on Adobe PDF Content Copying Not Allowed
Q. Why my PDF won’t let me copy it?
The error can’t copy text from PDF happens when the PDF file is corrupted, password-secured, image-based, and even protected by strong DRM security. Here, you need to remove these prohibitions to make your PDF content selectable or searchable at once.
Q. How to change content copying function from “Not Allowed” to “Allowed”?
To enable content copying in PDF, use the SysTools pro tool – one of the best ways to remove all the copy protection, allowing you to access and select the text from the document. It is trusted and secure software that comes with advanced features to enable PDF content copying.
Concluding Words
In this following guide, we have shared the best fixes for can’t copy text from PDF error. By using these methods, you can easily enable the PDF text copy, making it accessible. However, we recommend you to use the SysTools solution, it is more reliable and cost-effective compared to other tools. Additionally, it allows you to access the PDF content in copying format without any restriction or data loss.