How to Copy Text from Secured PDF

To copy text from secured PDF files, you will either need to unlock the files and remove such restrictions or use a workaround that will allow you to select and copy text portions of the file. One of the best tools for this is aJoysoft PDF Password Remover, a one-click solution to remove any restrictions on a secured PDF file and open it up for editing, copying, and printing. There are also a couple of other workarounds that don't need special software except for a PDF editor. Let's look at all these methods and how to copy text from secured PDFs.

Method 1: How to Copy Text from Secured PDFs with the One-click Method

aJoysoft PDF Password Remover offers a one-click solution to copy secured PDF content. Using this, you can instantly unlock all restrictions and copy text from protected PDF files. The best part is that it also supports batch unlocking, which is something you won't get with a workaround. Here's a snapshot of the features you can enjoy with aJoysoft PDF Password Remover:

• An unlimited number of PDFs can be uploaded for unlocking using batch processing
• Instant unlocking of all restrictions such as copying, printing, or editing
• Enter Open password and remove the need to enter it each time you access the file
• Tested to work on several versions of PDF files and different encryption types
• An experienced customer support team to help you out with your queries

Now, let's look at how to copy from locked PDF files by removing all restrictions with one click of your mouse.

Step 1. Add the Locked PDF

Launch aJoysoft PDF Password Remover on your computer and import the file or files using a simple drag and drop action or using the "Add Files" button on the welcome page.

Step 2. Unlock PDF

Click the "Remove Password" button to completely remove all copying and other restrictions from the file or files. (If any PDF is locked for viewing, you need click the lock icon and enter the open password)

When prompted, choose a target folder to save the PDFs, all of which are now unprotected and easy to copy from in any PDF editor.

Step 3. Copy Text from Secured PDF

You can copy text from the secured PDF with multiple tools, such as you can open it in Google Chrome and copy the text easily. Or, you can open it in other PDF reader and editor to select and copy.

This is the most straightforward way to unlock PDFs for copy-paste actions. However, there are also a couple of workaround options that you can consider using.

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Method 2: Use Google Drive to Copy Text from Secured PDFs

Google Drive doesn't offer a native PDF viewer, but you can upload PDF files to your Drive account and then download them again for copying purposes. Alternatively, you can upload the file and then use an add-on extension for this purpose. Let's look at how it works:

Step 1. Upload PDF on Google Drive

After making sure you're signed in to your Google Drive account, upload the PDF into a Drive folder using "New" > "File Upload" or just drop it into the browser tab.

Step 2. Open PDF with Google Docs

At this point, your PDF file is displayed on the Google Drive. Right-click the file and select "Open with" > "Google Docs".

Step 3. Copy Text from Protected PDF

After you open the PDF in Google Docs, you can easily copy text from it.

This is obviously a workaround solution for how to copy text from secured PDFs. Moreover, you cannot process multiple files this way. Even if you upload them as a batch, you'll need to download them either one at a time or as a ZIP file, which adds an extra step to the process.

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Method 3: Using Adobe Acrobat DC (Paid Version)

For this process, you'll need a fully unlocked version of Adobe Acrobat DC or Pro DC. It can either be within the free trial period or a purchased license. You will also need access to both the Open and the Permissions passwords before using this method. Once you have that, follow the steps shown here:

1. First, import the PDF to Acrobat using "File" > "Open" and then select the file. If Acrobat is your default PDF editor, you can also double-click the file in Explorer to open it.
2. Next, if you see a password prompt, you'll need to enter the Open password to unlock the file for viewing.
3. Click on "File" > "Properties" and go to the Security tab to view the summary of all restrictions applied to that document.
4. Here, choose the Security Method as No Security, which essentially means you're removing all security restrictions including the Permissions password
5. At this point, you'll be prompted for the Permissions password, which you can enter in the corresponding field

Performing these actions will fully unlock the file and you will no longer need to enter a password to view or a password to copy text, edit the file, or send the job to the printer. Again, as with the previous method, you'll need to do this for one file at a time. You can also use the Action Wizard to unlock several PDFs together but the requirement here is that all of the passwords for all the files need to be identical, or else it won't work.

Parting Words

Now that we've explored three ways for how to copy text from secured PDF files, it's clear that aJoysoft PDF Password Remover is the most user-friendly one. Not only does it handle batch processing of decrypting any restrictions password but it doesn't require the passwords to be the same. You'll still need to know the Open password to fully unlock a PDF for viewing but you don't need to know the Permissions password, which is a huge advantage. What's more, this password remover is very affordable and lightweight so it won't take up a lot of resources or empty your pockets in the process. Try it today and speed up your workflows when working with secure PDFs.