How do I stop someone from printing my PDF document?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to the security settings (often under 'Protect'). Find the option to 'Restrict printing, editing, copying'. Set 'Printing Allowed' to 'None'. Create an owner password to save these changes. This password is key to keeping your print restriction active.

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

Setting Effect on Printing Purpose. None Completely stops anyone from printing the PDF document. Ensures the document remains digital and cannot be physically copied. Low (150 dpi) Allows printing, but only at a very low quality (150 dots per inch). Permits basic physical copies for reference, but prevents high-quality reproductions.

Limit Viewer Actions in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Create a secure, watermarked copy of the draft patent filing for the outside inventor review…+

Create a secure, watermarked copy of the draft patent filing for the outside inventor review group: add a visible watermark 'For Inventor Review Only' and password-protect the PDF before sharing.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Share the draft with minimal leak risk: create a password-protected PDF with a visible 'For…+

Share the draft with minimal leak risk: create a password-protected PDF with a visible 'For Inventor Review Only' watermark including reviewer name on each page, restrict printing, and record who was sent the file and when.

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 in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
2
Select Tools from the left pane.
3
Choose Protect PDF from the available tools.
4
Click Restrict Editing under the Protect PDF options.
5
Check the option to restrict copying of content (text, images, and other content).
CautionUsers may still be able to take screenshots or use third-party tools to extract content.
6
Set a permissions password when prompted to prevent others from changing these restrictions.
RecommendationChoose a strong password and store it securely.
7
Save the PDF to apply the new security settings.

In the appWith the API

After applying restrictions, test the PDF by attempting to copy text or images to ensure the settings are working as intended.

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.

DPI (dots per inch)This number tells you how clear a printed image will be. A higher number means clearer printing.

Who does this

3 roles

Document Security AdministratorCompliance OfficerLegal Assistant

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF in Acrobat.
Go to the security settings (often under 'Protect').
Find the option to 'Restrict printing, editing, copying'.
Set 'Printing Allowed' to 'None'.
Create an owner password to save these changes. This password is key to keeping your print restriction active.

When you set 'Changes Allowed' in your PDF's security settings, you are controlling specific actions. This includes whether someone can insert new pages, delete existing pages, rotate pages, fill out forms, or extract parts of the document. Setting this to 'None' means no one can make any of these changes, keeping your document's content and structure exactly as you intended.

It depends on how you set the 'Changes Allowed' option. If you choose an option that specifically permits form filling, then yes, users can still fill out forms. However, if you set 'Changes Allowed' to 'None' or another option that restricts all changes, then form filling will also be blocked. Always check your specific settings to ensure the desired outcome.

An owner password is like a key for your PDF's security settings. It is needed to make sure that only you, or someone you trust, can change or remove the restrictions you have put in place. Without an owner password, anyone could simply undo your settings, making the restrictions useless. It protects your choices.

Setting	Effect on Printing	Purpose
None	Completely stops anyone from printing the PDF document.	Ensures the document remains digital and cannot be physically copied.
Low (150 dpi)	Allows printing, but only at a very low quality (150 dots per inch).	Permits basic physical copies for reference, but prevents high-quality reproductions.

Limit Viewer Actions

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help