cannot remove security on my document when signed or certified

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
May 6, 2024
1 reply
9097 views

I have created a security password for my documents that disallow copying/editing, but allow hi-res printing, permission for screen readers and allows commenting.

I need to make a change and remove the security, but I get an error that says "You cannot change security on this document because the document is signed or certified."

This password policy has been used for years and was never a problem removing security before. How can I correct this so that I have the ability to remove the security (with password) at a later date?

I am not intentionally signing or adding a certificate to my document. If this is a setting somewhere, how do I disable it?

This topic has been closed for replies.

MikelKlink

Participating Frequently

I am not intentionally signing or adding a certificate to my document.

Do you Reader-enable the PDF? Reader-enabling is essentially applying a special kind of signature, a usage rights signature.

L

laurie_gAuthor

Known Participant

These are my document password settings. A password is required to remove security. This has always worked in the past. Is enabling Reader a setting somewhere else? If so, I am not doing it intentionally other than allowing commenting - this allows the reader to add notes, comments, answers to questions.

MikelKlink

Participating Frequently

I think I found the culprit. Although I don't have the Save as other option, I am adding it here. I have always done this, it allows the students to put their answers into the document without making other changes.

I see that now - when I apply my security policy and that setting, I see this message (which obviously I have not paid any attention to). It does say it will digitally sign the document. Is there anyway to turn that off?

When I open your example file and show the Security tab of the Document Properties, I see:

As described at the bottom of that tab, you can remove Reader-enabling by using "Save a Copy" from the "File" menu. As the new Acrobat UI has no "File" menu anmore and I also couldn't find "Save a Copy" elsewhere, I needed to switch back to the old Acrobat UI to do so. After saving a copy, that copy indeed allows changing the security settings (if you have the password).

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