How to edit a read-only file?

[coolia1212]

PDF files that I used to be able to edit to are now suddenly read-only.  Across the top bar, it says "The file you have opened complies with the PDF/A standard and has been opened read-only to prevent modification." How do I change that so I can make edits? Under Security Properties, it says Signing and Filling Forms is allowed. I have Adobe Reader X.

[Bernd Alheit · Accepted solution]

In the preferences of Adobe Reader disable the PDF/A mode.

[coolia1212]

Thanks.  In case others have the same question, that mode is under Documents (in Preferences)

[LorettoLo]

You SAVED me! In the middle of a deadline, and all of a sudden all my Adobe PDF's became "read only." Anyway... thank you!

[ragonza]

Preferences-Documents-PDF/A view mode (select in the drop down menu-Never). You're done!

[paulm5931785]

What about on mobile?

[Bernd Alheit]

What is your issue with mobile?

[kasey2]

My issue is with the mobile app as well. I secure my pdf files with the Edit > "Restrict Editing" password setting, which should disallow changing the document, document assembly and content copying, but allow printing, page extraction, filling out of forms, signing, etc. as shown on the Document Porperties dialog box's Security tab. Unfortunately, the Acrobat Reader iphone mobile app has never allowed my forms to be filled out without a password. The latest version of the app says the file is "read only" and when I click "fill and sign" it says "Protected document. This tool is not available because the document is password protected". I keep hoping they fix it. Is there a better way to add security and allow for filling out and printing that works with the mobile app?

[kasey2]

By Edit > "Restrict Editing", I meant the "Edit PDF" tool, and the "Restrict Editing" checkbox of the tool. I've never attempted to use the Protect tool to set security.

[Bernd Alheit]

The result is the same.

[kasey2]

So in researching the PDF/A mode, it looks like PDF/A mode is "designed to give a minimal feature set to enable long term storage assuming that storage formats will vary in future rendering a full PDF document either partially or totally unreadable."

So I guess I need to remove the security (open pdf, click Edit PDF tool, enter the applicable password, uncheck the security box, save again), change my preference to PDF/A mode to "Never", then resave my security using the Edit PDF tool, on each pdf? I'll give it a go on one of them on my computer, then try to open it in the mobile app to see if it lets me fill out the form. It would be great to be able to allow cusotmers to use the mobile app.

[kasey2]

Performing those actions didn't allow me to fill out the form on the app, unfortunately.  Is there a PDF/A mode preference setting on the iphone app that I'm not seeing, that I need to set and make customers aware of? 

[kasey2]

I should also note that if I do not have the pdf restricted with a password, it can be filled out on the mobile app, and this appears to be regardless of the PDF/A setting I had on my desktop version when saving.

[kasey2]

Adobe has a "Fill and Sign" iphone app as well. I just downloaded it and opened a few test pdfs I created, and it completely removes my existing form fields (which are prepopulated with text in an embedded font), whether or not the pdf is password protected. It only leaves the background picture. You can click anywhere and add text, but it isn't using the text boxes from the pdf or the embedded fonts. 

[Beth21856965gg8y]

sorry this is really late but I found a way! Export it to word then export back to pdf & it'll no longer be in read only mode 🙂 

[Chris228142377fm3]

Where is this located. I can't find anywhere in Adobe acrobat under Preferences. Thanks. 

[Bernd Alheit]

Acrobat Reader can't edit PDF files.

[Lauren298423190785]

I read all of these comments and none of them apply to me. I am on the mobile version on my iPad. I cannot edit because it says read only. If i export it it is all a jumbled mess and it doesn't give me another option to export it back. I Dont have the PDF/A mode as an option either. Please help. 

[PAULA28952431wfzw]

Where do you find preferences

[IlseHat]

I've suddenly developed the same problem.

When I open a PDF file, I used to be able to save my comments on that file.  Now, my Adobe only allows me to save it under a new name.  I do not want different versions of the same document.  I want one document with all the different comments.

I've changed the preferences as suggested in previous posts.

It hasn't made a difference.

I urgently need help with this problem

[Arafin Sardar]

 There is nothing to take tense about it is very simple to make it editable. If in some you can edit  it, you convert your pdf file into doc file by online. You can do it by many tools such like Smallseotool, smallpdf.com and ilovepdf.com are remarkable. 

[winnett_5398]

I'm trying to edit a pdf that is a read only with no password or no option to unlock is that possible? If please help!