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December 31, 2016
Answered

Unable to copy text from any PDF

  • 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.

    10 replies

    StephenIT
    New Participant
    August 22, 2023

    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.

    New Participant
    January 27, 2021

    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?

    New Participant
    March 2, 2021

    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

    New Participant
    January 27, 2021

    Nope

    New Participant
    September 12, 2020

    Done this, still same result, whole page with blue color

    New Participant
    April 24, 2020

    I have the free version adobe reader dc. tried all of the above and I still cannot cut and past a few small pieces of text.

    try67
    Community Expert
    April 24, 2020

    Try copy, not cut.

    New Participant
    April 19, 2020

    Alas it didn't work for me. And for some strange reason Adobe does not allow me to buy/download Pro "in my country".

     

    try67
    Community Expert
    April 20, 2020

    What country is that?

    New Participant
    October 8, 2019

    Did that. And it did not work..

    New Participant
    February 8, 2017

    Never occurred to me to mess with adobe's Preferences.  But that's the ticket! (fingers crossed).

    Correct answer
    December 31, 2016

    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.

    January 1, 2017

    I am unable to transferr my sc

    January 1, 2017

    I am unable to transferr a PDF to my email

    hans-g.
    Brainiac
    December 31, 2016

    Hello,

    --------- my answer was not needed, so I deleted it ---------

    Hans-Günter