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

[Guest]

But it isn't signed.  There is a block for a digital signature, but it is not signed.

I tried File, Save A Copy; but even that copy cannot be changed.  All of the edit controls are greyed out.

[try67]

You can do all kinds of things to invalidate the signature and edit the file, but you can't re-apply it afterwards (unless you re-sign the file).

[daofuy75110270]

wow，following this tips，the problem solved. thanks a lot.

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

[Francesco32627338wpt8]

Fantastic workaround! It worked on a super-heavy (400+ pages) file with multiple signatures. It was impossible to open and manage before, now it is a piece of cake 🙂 

[ToranagaSan]

This worked perfectly! thank you

[bradleyl67537570]

Thank you! This saved me

[SMK02]

Thank you!

[kevin_4235]

This saved my bacon!  Thank You!!!! 🙂

[christopher_6355]

That still works in 2025. Major points to you. This is the craziest program I've ever had to wrestle with.

[hashemian01]

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

[Eli4485]

This is the fastest way. Thank you!

[babers80]

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.

[AKeat2]

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.

[bartandpearl]

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.

[Guest]

I documented this solution:

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

It works all the time 🙂

[klarsen133]

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.

[default2nomapph8xxc]

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.