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SimonATSCorrect answer
Legend
Nov 16, 2021 12:12 PM UTC

Hi  Mikel, indeed you are correct. Unless the PDF also has an open password set, using 3rd party software you can refry the signed PDF from Adobe Sign.

 

However there is a better for users with business/enteprise type of Sign accounts. These Sign accounts can be configured so the sealing is changes so the signed pdf no longer has an owner password, and uses a digital signature rather than a certitifcate to seal the Signed PDF,

 

with such a PDF, Acrobat can be used to easily remove the seal by combining the file (but not selecting other files if not actually wanting to combine) into a new file, or extract all pages into a new file. This unsealed copy can be redacted, or otherwise be processed. Though it's advisable to also keep a copy of the sealed pdf version as well.

21 replies

Participant
May 31, 2025 7:32 PM UTC

This is incredibly frustrating and has lost me weeks in workflow and caused me to experience an unnecessary amount of stress. I am attempting to compile numerous motions filed in a lower court for a record appendix. Because Adobe's redaction 'feature' has removed signatures for these documents, I have lost an incredible amount of time rebuilding my appendix--several weeks, moths, even. My feeling is that adobe obstructs mor justice than helping it. I now must include another motion in my brief to explain Adobe's failures which have caused me to submit an non conforming brief in a state court of law. 

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Participant
Nov 15, 2024 11:20 AM UTC

Hope you found a solution, if not, you can print the signed PDF, then redact the text. this way it doesn't block via the signature panel

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Participant
Nov 15, 2024 12:02 PM UTC

I meant to say, print to adobe pdf or microsoft pdf, open the file, and then redact. works like a charm. 

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Participant
Jul 31, 2023 10:00 AM UTC

The easiest way. Export -> PostScript -> this make .ps file, open it with Adobe, this make a new PDF, unlocked without sign

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Participant
Oct 16, 2026 9:22 PM UTC

This worked for me! Now I can redact the document! Thank you so much! 

 

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Meenakshi_Negi
Legend
Nov 15, 2021 8:41 AM UTC

Hi Wilmetnj,

 

Thank you for reaching out and sorry for the delay in response.

 

If the document is signed via the Adobe Sign or it is an Adobe Sign document, it is not possible to redact it.

It is not possible to make any changes to the document signed via Adobe Sign. This is a designed behaviour.

Hope the information helps.

 

Thanks,

Meenakshi

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MikelKlink
Participating Frequently
Nov 15, 2021 10:18 AM UTC
quote

If the document is signed via the Adobe Sign or it is an Adobe Sign document, it is not possible to redact it.

It is not possible to make any changes to the document signed via Adobe Sign. This is a designed behaviour.

 

This is incorrect (at least unless the format of Adobe Sign signed PDFs recently has changed completely).

The most recent Adobe Sign signed PDF I have merely is certified with no changes allowed and encrypted without Document Open Password to disallow changes.

 

Neither mechanism makes it "impossible to make any changes".

 

Changes will invalidate the certification signature, but the OP has indicated that they are ok with removing the digital signature altogether, so that is no problem.

Furthermore, encryption permissions only work for cooperative applications and there are dozens of non cooperative web services out there allowing to remove encryption.

 

Thus, most likely you would have been right if you said that it's not possible to make any changes using Adobe Acrobat alone. Using other software first to remove certification and encryption, though, will allow redacting the document, quite likely even with Adobe Acrobat.

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SimonATSCorrect answer
Legend
Nov 16, 2021 12:12 PM UTC

Hi  Mikel, indeed you are correct. Unless the PDF also has an open password set, using 3rd party software you can refry the signed PDF from Adobe Sign.

 

However there is a better for users with business/enteprise type of Sign accounts. These Sign accounts can be configured so the sealing is changes so the signed pdf no longer has an owner password, and uses a digital signature rather than a certitifcate to seal the Signed PDF,

 

with such a PDF, Acrobat can be used to easily remove the seal by combining the file (but not selecting other files if not actually wanting to combine) into a new file, or extract all pages into a new file. This unsealed copy can be redacted, or otherwise be processed. Though it's advisable to also keep a copy of the sealed pdf version as well.

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MikelKlink
Participating Frequently
Nov 8, 2021 4:28 PM UTC

You are aware that redaction changes the document? Thus, after redaction any digital signatures will be invalid. Is that ok for your use case?

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wilmetnjAuthor
Participant
Nov 8, 2021 4:52 PM UTC

Yes, I am aware of that.  Any signatures on the document would be part of what is being redacted, so I guess that means that it would be ok that the document has been changed and the signatures would be invalid.

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MikelKlink
Participating Frequently
Nov 8, 2021 5:29 PM UTC

Ok. Then the question is which application(s) for PDF processing you have at your disposal or are prepared to acquire.

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Participant
May 6, 2021 4:33 PM UTC

I have Adobe Acrobat Pro and I am trying to redact information from documents signed with Adobe Sign.  I can highlight the text to be redacted but I'm not able to apply the redaction.  Any ideas? I have dozens of these documents that need redaction. 

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try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 6, 2021 4:51 PM UTC

Not possible. A digital signature locks the file from further editing.

You need to do so before the files are signed.

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Participant
May 6, 2021 5:00 PM UTC

Damn, I didn't need to redact them until after they were signed.  I only bought Pro for the redaction function. There's no other workaround?

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