How do I stop someone from printing my PDF document?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to the 'Restrict printing, editing, copying' options. Under 'Printing Allowed', choose 'None'. This will prevent anyone from printing your PDF.

What does 'Changes Allowed' control when I set restrictions on my PDF?

Inserting, deleting, or rotating pages. Filling out forms in the document. Extracting pages from the PDF.

Apply Access Controls in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Ensure every policy and procedure is recorded and dated — create a new library template, add…+

Ensure every policy and procedure is recorded and dated — create a new library template, add current policy PDFs with revision dates on each header, and make the folder available to staff by [deadline=Friday].

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Make policies discoverable and auditable for staff — create a library template named…+

Make policies discoverable and auditable for staff — create a library template named [template='Policies & Procedures'], add each policy PDF with a dated header and a one‑line summary, include a version history page at the front, and set the template permissions so all inspectors can read but only policy owners can edit.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open the PDF file you want to restrict in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
2
Select File from the top menu, then choose Properties.
3
In the Document Properties window, click the Security tab.
4
From the Security Method dropdown, select Password Security.
5
In the Password Security Settings dialog, check the option to restrict editing and printing of the document.
6
Set a permissions password when prompted.
CautionIf you forget this password, you cannot change or remove the restrictions later.
7
Choose the specific restrictions you want to apply (e.g., disallow printing, disallow editing, disallow copying).
8
Click OK to confirm your settings and close the dialog.
9
Click OK again in the Document Properties window.
10
Save the PDF to apply the new permissions.
Best practiceTest your restricted PDF in a different PDF reader or with a different user account to confirm the permissions are enforced.

In the appWith the API

You can review or change these restrictions later by reopening the Document Properties and returning to the Security tab.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

Access ControlsRules that say who can do what with a document, like printing or editing.ExampleSetting access controls ensures only managers can edit the budget spreadsheet.

Owner PasswordA password that lets you change or remove PDF restrictions.ExampleEntering the owner password allows you to print a document that was previously restricted from printing.

Restrict PermissionsTo limit what others can do with your PDF, like printing or editing.ExampleYou set the PDF so others can read it but not print or copy its content.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Ensure every policy and procedure is recorded, dated, and available to staff so implementation can be verified.

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF in Acrobat.
Go to the 'Restrict printing, editing, copying' options.
Under 'Printing Allowed', choose 'None'. This will prevent anyone from printing your PDF.

'Printing Allowed: None' means no one can print the document at all. 'Low (150 dpi)' means people can print, but only at a low quality. This is useful if you want to share information but prevent high-quality reproductions, which can protect your content from being easily copied or misused.

The owner password acts as a key to unlock the restrictions you set. It ensures that only the person who set the controls, or someone they trust, can change or remove them. This keeps your document secure and prevents unauthorized changes.

Yes, if you set 'Changes Allowed' to permit form filling, people can still fill out forms. The 'Changes Allowed' setting has different options, and 'form fill' is one of them. You can choose to allow only form filling while still restricting other edits like inserting or deleting pages.

Inserting, deleting, or rotating pages.
Filling out forms in the document.
Extracting pages from the PDF.

Apply Access Controls

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help