How do I stop people from printing my PDF document using Restrict Permissions?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to the 'Protect' tools and choose 'Restrict editing and printing'. Under 'Printing Allowed', select 'None'. Set an owner password to save these changes.

What is the difference between 'Printing Allowed: None' and 'Low (150 dpi)' when restricting PDF permissions?

Option Effect. Printing Allowed: None No one can print the PDF document at all. Printing Allowed: Low (150 dpi) People can print the PDF, but only at a low quality (150 dots per inch). This makes the printout less clear.

Enforce Sharing Controls in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Establish departmental rules for redaction and sharing of sensitive site data: create a PDF…+

Establish departmental rules for redaction and sharing of sensitive site data: create a PDF [policy] listing who may redact, decrypt, or distribute files, set password and trusted identity rules, and publish the [policy] to the records library.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Before rolling out the data‑handling rules, reduce accidental breaches and confusion: include…+

Before rolling out the data‑handling rules, reduce accidental breaches and confusion: include concrete examples of sensitive fields and required redaction steps, define approval workflow for decrypting files, provide a short training checklist for staff, and add an audit log requirement for any redaction or sharing action.

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

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.

PermissionsRules that say what people can or cannot do with a PDF, like printing or editing.ExampleThe document has Permissions set so only certain people can edit it.

RestrictTo limit or stop someone from doing something.ExampleThe company policy restricts employees from accessing certain websites during work hours.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Establish departmental rules for who may redact, decrypt, or share sensitive conservation site data and enforce them.

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF in Acrobat.
Go to the 'Protect' tools and choose 'Restrict editing and printing'.
Under 'Printing Allowed', select 'None'.
Set an owner password to save these changes.

The owner password is very important because it is the only way to change the security settings you set on a PDF. Without it, the document remains locked with the original restrictions. This ensures that once you apply sharing controls, only you (or someone with the password) can modify them, protecting your document's integrity.

When you restrict editing, you control specific actions. If you want people to fill out forms but not change other parts, you must set 'Changes Allowed' carefully. Make sure the 'form fill' option is permitted while other editing actions are restricted. This allows form interaction without full document modification.

Using Restrict Permissions keeps your document as a functional PDF while still controlling what others can do. If you share it as a picture, people cannot copy text, search for words, or use interactive elements like forms. Restricting permissions gives you control over specific actions, maintaining the PDF's usefulness while adding security.

Option	Effect
Printing Allowed: None	No one can print the PDF document at all.
Printing Allowed: Low (150 dpi)	People can print the PDF, but only at a low quality (150 dots per inch). This makes the printout less clear.

Enforce Sharing Controls

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help