Can't edit PDF, "This document has been signed and cannot be edited"

Open the PDF with Chrome, try to print it and instead of actually printing it save the printing preview as a new PDF file. This new PDF file should have all the security features taken off and you should be able to edit the document with no problems.

The solution that worked for me, with several types of sigs on the doc, was to PRINT to Adobe PDF, then reopen in Acrobat - then I could edit/sign as well. Hope this helps.

I documented this solution:

https://www.nazaudy.com/index.php/9-technology/89-this-document-has-been-signed-and-can-not-be-edited

It works all the time 🙂

Hello,

In Acrobat DC I choose "Organize Pages" and then "Extract" and I extract them all to a new document. This maintains the integrity of the document exactly as it was, but allows adding things, like an image signature.

I've had the same issue. In reality, there isn't a way to do it the way it instructs you. But, I have found a workaround.  Here are the steps. On the left-hand side of the signed document, click the small button to expand the menu > Click Page Thumbnails at the top > Select all the pages in your document (click the first page, scroll to the bottom hit the shift key, then click the last) > click the options button at the top of the pop-out menu (under "Page Thumbnails") > click copy > at the top of your window click  File  > Create > Create form > Create new > Start > Click Page Thumbnails again on the left-hand side>  Right-click on the blank page shown > click Paste > Edit your document as needed > Delete the blank page at the top.

I had the same problem and was able to overcome the restrictions by doing "Save a Copy" instead of a simple Save or Save As.

Go to Properties (from File or hit Ctrl + D). Check the Security tab. Validate or change the form to No Security.

If the form has an invisible certificate, you can see the restrictions in the Security tab also. When you do the "Save a Copy", it erases the certificates and removes the restrictions.

Just Export it as Postscript, then convert the postscript into PDF Again

Hi all,

I found a strange work around, if you right click on the file before opening and select " Combine files in Acrobat" a window will pop up, then you dont have to add any more files but need to Press " Combine Files" and all signatures will be removed (allowing to change document and have signatures added again)

Hope this helps

Hello,

The only workaround that I found regarding this situation is to save the document as a .pptx format, the document format remains the same as in PDF, and after that you can edit it, and save it again in a .pdf format.

Hope it helps.

All the best!

I just ran into this same problem. Individual sending the document insisted it was neither signed nor password protected but I get this message when I try to edit "Document has been signed and cannot be edited". I was trying to open with Adobe Acrobat DC Pro XI on a MacBook Pro.

I downloaded the document to an older computer  (Windows 10) using Adobe Acrobat Pro 9.5 and could easily edit.

So, this seems to be a problem with opening documents using the latest (and not so greatest) Adobe software.

Hope you can correct this in future updates.