Skip to main content
A
Anonymous
February 1, 2017
Answered

PDF Document cannot be edited after saving

  • February 1, 2017
  • 14 replies
  • 99543 views

I am able to download a PDF document, and fill in the form. However, when I save the document, close it, and open it again, I cannot edit anything anymore. I also cannot digitally sign any of the signature fields. When I open the document after saving and closing, I get a message that reads,

"This document enabled extended features in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. The document has been changed since it was created and use of extended features is no longer available."

I have another fillable PDF document that works just fine after saving and closing and does not produce the error message, and can be edited after opening again.

Can anyone help me out?

      Correct answer Bruno27803690dlfg

      I was having the same problem. I figured out that if I Put in a 'PDF' signature (which is what I was doing) and saved it, that was it. I did some tests and as long as I didn't put that signature in it would save, I could close it, and it would reopen, no problem, with all the fields working.

      14 replies

      Show previous replies
      S
      Skye2422306080oa
      Participant
      April 12, 2024

      I have the EXACT same problem with government docs I'm trying to fill out... so annoying!!!!

        Amal.
        Community Manager
        Amal.Community Manager
        Community Manager
        April 12, 2024

        Hi there

         

        Hope you are doing well and thanks for reaching out.

         

        Please try to download the PDF file to your computer locally and then try to fill and see if that helps.

         

        Also go through the correct answer marked in the similar siscussion https://adobe.ly/444eEMs and see if that works for you.

         

        Let us know how it goes.

         

        ~Amal

        J
        Jim_ButNotHim
        Participant
        January 23, 2022

        I have opened and edited the contents of various form fields in an Adobe pdf at least 20 times.  All of a sudden it has limited permissions and I can no longer edit it.  NOw reading here I find this is a long-time bug that Adobe seems to have done nothing about.

        Has anyone got an answer?

          M
          Merminotaur
          Participant
          April 12, 2022

          Dunno if this is the same issue that I had - my pdf only had less than 200 editable fields - but here is what I did to fix mine:

           

          1. Tools > Prepare Form
          2. Select All fields
          3. Right click > Properties
          4. General > uncheck "Locked" in bottom left
          5. Uncheck "Read Only" in Common Properties

           

          I hope this helps someone. Apologies if it isn't the same problem.

            Waatherz
            Waatherz
            Participant
            April 20, 2022

            this helped me, thank you!

            A
            Anonymous
            November 24, 2021

            This is a rather unfortunate bug for Adobe Reader. The software should warn you that you're about to make the doucment uneditable before you save.

             

            For those of you who would like to be able to edit and sign your edited document, I had great results with using [Link removed by moderator]  . It imported my document that I was locked out of and allowed me to edit all of the fields, including the content I had filled out in Reader.

              P
              PdfFiller
              Participant
              March 7, 2022

              Can you just post the name of the software that worked for you? Maybe they won't remove it if it doesn't contain a link.

               

                AkanchhaS8194121
                AkanchhaS8194121
                Legend
                February 1, 2017

                Hi Nicholasn52814609,

                How did you edit the form at the very first place? is it was edited in the same application Adobe Reader?

                Also, have you added any signature when you have save the document at first place?

                because signing the document is the last steps, once you do that you can not edit it anymore.

                Is it possible that you can send the document to us via private message? we would like to test the same at our end.

                Regards,

                Akanchha

                A
                Anonymous
                February 1, 2017

                I had downloaded the document from the first result in this Google search:

                https://www.google.com/search?q=4651r&oq=4651r&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.2984j0j4&client=ms-android-google&sourceid=chrome-m…

                I opened the document in Adobe and not in another tab in Google chrome. From there the lines were fillable and I could edit it. Even without a digital signature, the document cannot be edited once it has been saved, closed and opened again. how would I be able to send you the document via private message? Thanks!

                AkanchhaS8194121
                AkanchhaS8194121
                Legend
                February 2, 2017

                i have just shared an email address with you via private message.

                please attach your file and send it to us, mentioning your forums thread in the subject line.

                Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
                Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices