Why Unable to Fill in PDF Form – 5 Fixes to Enable Filling
Have you been struck due to unable to fill in PDF form? Whether it’s an application or a confidential document, filling out form fields not allowed in PDF can certainly disrupt your workflow and efficiency. Don’t worry! In this guide, we will discover the reasons and the common troubleshooting fixes to resolve the error, making your PDF form fillable without any data loss and necessary text including formatting or PDF elements.
Why I Can’t Fill in PDF Form?
PDF fillable forms are typically considered documents that contain well-structured fields like checkboxes, text boxes, menus, drop-downs, etc. These forms are mainly used for gathering data, surveys, and more, ensuring interaction and understanding of different perceptions.
Despite the benefits, addressing the issue of unable to fill in Adobe PDF form will introduce unwanted challenges. In this way, you can’t edit the form which triggers frustration and increases the manual work like the use of handwritten forms. However, there are various reasons behind unable to fill in PDF form, find them below:
Document Security or Protected PDF: If the owner has locked or enabled the security on the PDF file with a password, edit protection, restriction of filling in the form, etc. These protections control the actions unless you remove security from PDF form documents.
Read-Only PDF Form: Sometimes PDF comes with read-only restrictions to prevent unwanted modification or editing. Hence, the user can only view or read the form without altering the fields of the PDF form.
PDF File is Scanned: If the PDF document is scanned, it is certainly converted into a non-interactive PDF. It only contains the text in image format instead of text. Hence, you can’t fill out PDF form with ease.
PDF Form Filling Restriction: The inability to fill out PDF form fields typically stems from restrictions imposed by the creator. It helps to secure document content from unauthorized editing. Often such protections can be frustrating when need to update the form.
Overall, these are the common reasons for filling of form fields not allowed in PDF. Here, taking prompt action is essential to elevate your workflow and reduce stress, ensuring modification of content and fixing of errors. Now, let’s move down to discover the easy troubleshooting fixes.
5 Easy Fixes for Unable to Fill in PDF Form
Struggling with can’t fill in PDF form is a difficult situation. It prevents you to update and enabling the form filling in PDF. Luckily, here are the best and most effective fixes to try when facing the issue of being unable to fill a fillable PDF. Now, take a look below:
- Check for PDF File Corruption
- Disable Browser Plugins
- Clear Browser Cache History
- Use Adobe Acrobat to Enable Form Filling in PDF
- SysTools PDF Form Unlocker to Fix PDF Form Not Filling
Now, let’s learn these methods through step-by-step guidance.
Fixes 1: Check for PDF File Corruption
The PDF fillable form problems often happen if the document is corrupted or damaged. It might occur when the PDF elements or formatting gets disrupted. To resolve this error, either you need to download the PDF from the original source or use file repair software to deeply scan the document. In this way, you can enable form filling in PDF without any loss.
Fixes 2: Disable Browser Plugins
If the problem of PDF filling form fields not allowed remains constant, it occurs due to problematic browser extensions. These plugins conflict with PDF management tools like Reader. Hence, it avoids filling out PDFs or making the document fillable. Here, you need to turn off these browser plugins to ensure PDF form fills with ease. Additionally, it helps to fix the bugs rooted with extensions or add-ons.
Fixes 3: Clear Browser Cache History
This is another basic troubleshooting fixes for unable to fill in PDF form. Like problematic extensions, corrupted browser cache data is equally responsible for making the PDF form fields not editable when using web-based tools.
Moreover, the cache and cookies trigger glitches which certainly introduce the incompatibility of software. To ensure form filling in PDF, you should clear all the browser cache history via settings. It is a simple and hassle-free approach to fix unable to fill in Adobe PDF form.
Fixes 4: Use Adobe Acrobat to Fix Can’t Fill Out PDF Form
Adobe Acrobat is a universal workaround when facing problems like being unable to fill in Adobe PDF form. The issue of PDF not showing fillable fields mainly occurs when there are document restrictions typically granted by owners to prevent form filling or editing.
To enable editing in PDF file, Adobe Acrobat DC is the ultimate solution to the commonly known creative tool. It allows you to edit, modify, and remove different kinds of PDF protection, making it free from document security and integrity. This robust software helps you to remove or adjust all security and restrictions from the PDF fillable form. Here is the step-by-step guide to fix unable to fill in PDF form:
- Download the Adobe Acrobat DC tool on your system.
- Open the non-editable PDF form via the File option.
- Perform right-click > find Document Properties.
- Find Security Tab > enable No Security.
- After this, enter the necessary password > OK.
- In this way, you can enable PDF form filling easily.
It certainly looks simple and quick, isn’t it? This method fortunately helps you to fix PDF form errors such as unable to fill a fillable PDF. However, there are some drawbacks incorporated with this tool, make sure to keep it in mind.
Fixes 5: SysTools PDF Unlocker to Fix Filling of Form Fields Not Allowed in PDF
PDF can’t fill in form fields due to document restrictions. To modify and make your PDF fillable, use the SysTools PDF Unlocker Tool, one of the most powerful and robust software designed for both Windows and Mac OS. This is a highly trusted and secure utility that allows you to get full access to the PDF document.
If you’re wondering how to enable form filling in PDF, you can utilize this pro software. It comes with advanced features allowing you to disable all the document restrictions like form filling, editing, password protection, printing, etc. Since Acrobat DC causes issues increasing the changes of error. Fortunately, this is a secure and feature-packed software without any malfunctioning.
Most importantly, there is no subscription plan like Acrobat. Hence, this is a cost-effective and handy software to remove form filling PDF restriction and fix the error of PDF form fields not editable.
FAQs on PDF Can’t Fill in Form Fields
Q. Why is my PDF fillable form not editable?
If PDF filling form fields not allowed, this could be due to a corrupted document, PDF form filling restriction, and document protection. Additionally, the security restrictions imposed by creators unable users to edit the PDF form with ease.
Q. How do I convert a non-editable PDF form into a fillable PDF?
Try SysTools PDF Form Restriction Removal Tool to remove form filling protection from PDF documents. Additionally, this advanced software helps you to fix PDF form errors like unable to fill in Adobe PDF form. With this, you can easily make your PDF fillable and update the information at once.
Q. Is it legal to remove restrictions on filling out form fields in a PDF?
The legality depends on your rights to the document and the intent behind the restriction. Always ensure you have the right to edit the document before attempting to remove restrictions.
Concluding Words
The problem of being unable to fill in PDF form is quite frustrating. Luckily, following this troubleshooting guide, you can easily resolve the error. However, we recommend you use SysTools’ advanced software to remove the PDF form protection and easily access the fillable PDF form in future work.