Unable to redact a signed document

[Spkn]

Hi, I am unable to redact a document which has been signed electronically. I know the point is to avoid editing the document but  there are many instances where redactions need to be applied post-signing when the document is being circulated to non-party members. Please advise on how to remove this restrictive function on Adobe Pro. Many thanks.

[kglad]

is this an acrobat question?

<moved from using the community >

[Spkn]

Yes

[Bernd Alheit]

You can redact the document when you remove the signatures.

[JR Boulay]

Please, start here: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/edit-signed-PDF.html

[try67]

This is the correct behavior, and can't be overcome. A digital signature locks the file in its current form when it was signed (with the possible exception of filling in form fields and/or signing it again). If you want to redact parts of it you must do so before signing it.

[Orionbaby]

Export the document as an image. Convert the image back into an adobe file. Now you can OCR and redact on the document, just as if it was scanned in. 

[try67]

True, but then it's not (digitally) signed any longer...

[robert_4715]

So if you take your signed PDF and then convert it to a Word doc you can redact it there and then convert it back to a PDF. It's really easy to do. No muss. No fuss. 

[Mystic_Hero2306]

Running into this issue myself. Tried this method, however because the document has a password in place for any changes etc, Adobe is not allowing the signed PDF to be converted to any other file type at all.

Any thoughts?

[Mystic_Hero2306]

Password is not obtainable, as it is placed there by the developers of the platform being used for the digital signatures.

[danpinho]

If two signatures are required, Adobe recommends making a copy.

This app is getting worse instead of better.

The subscription, on the other hand, only knows one thing: how to keep increasing.

[Generous_Sunbeam5FB4]

Totally agree—features seem to decline while prices keep climbing. It's frustrating to see essential tools become less user-friendly over time.