Unable to copy text from any PDF

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
December 31, 2016
10 replies
62342 views

When I copy/paste from a webpage or Word everything is fine.

When I copy/paste from a PDF nothing happens. The clipboard is empty.

I've tried to copy from various PDFs. It doesn't matter if they're young or old, if they're downloaded or generated locally.

I have the latest version Acrobat Reader DC (15.020.20042) on my Windows 7 Home PC.

What to do ???

Correct answer

GOTCHA!

Removed a single checkmark and suddenly copy/paste works

Under Preferences -> Security (Enhanced) -> Sandbox Protections there's a checkbox "Enable Protected Mode at startup"

Remove the checkmark and you're good to go.

StephenIT

New Participant

I have the same problem on some of my .pdfs from FEDEX. Some of them let me copy text either before I save the file as .pdf or after I print shipping label from same printer dialog box.

Some of my shipping receipts let me copy text and some don't. I have copy text enabled in Adobe Reader. Its arbitrary when this happens but like I metioned before its like the dialog box corrupts the printing to .pdf or after I send label to printer from the same dialog box. I use MS Edge as my browser and it happens in Chrome as well. I'm thinking I might have to wait for print to .pdf stabilizes and saves file before saving document as .pdf OR Print label to printer before saving shipping receipt as .pdf. None of my .pdfs are protected and I am saving/printing on the fly. Still testing.

A

Alex5E46

New Participant

I found a work around the issue. With it I can create a new PDF from the one which will not allow me to copy a page from one sent to me. The trick is to modify it.

As yourself how do you build a PDF from a series of pages of scanned documents?

D

default3smfpmiquttm

New Participant

This works. By using Mac Preview to select File --> Export as PDF, I was able to save a copy of file. And I could copy the text from this new file. Thanks a lot. Michael

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Alex5E46

New Participant

Nope