Sometimes you need people to read a document but not walk away with a reusable copy of it. A proposal you're sending for review but don't want printed and passed around. A price list you don't want competitors copy-pasting. A draft you'll share on screen but not have extracted. PDF permission restrictions let you switch off printing and copying while still letting anyone open and read the file.
This guide covers turning off those two specific actions, and is honest about where the protection ends.
The steps
- Open Blackpdf's Add Restrictions tool and drop your PDF in.
- Tick Restrict Printing (greys out the print option) and Restrict Copying (disables selecting and extracting text and images). Leave the others off so the file still opens and reads normally.
- Click Add Restrictions.
- Download the restricted PDF and share that copy.
What this prevents — and what it doesn't
Being clear about this matters, because the protection is real but bounded:
- It does disable the Print and copy/extract functions in well-behaved PDF readers. For most recipients, those buttons simply stop working.
- It doesn't encrypt the content, so a determined person with the right software can lift the restrictions. It also can't stop someone screenshotting or photographing the screen, or retyping what they see.
In other words, restrictions deter casual copying and printing and make your intent unmistakable — they're not a vault. For sensitive material, combine them with a password to open, and for anything that must be permanently hidden, redact it before sharing.
Common questions
Can the recipient still read the document?
Yes. Restricting printing and copying doesn't affect viewing — anyone can open and read it. You're switching off actions, not access. To block opening entirely, use a password to open instead.
Can someone just remove the restriction?
With the right tool, yes — restrictions are reader-enforced, not encrypted. (Our own Remove Restrictions tool does it.) Treat this as a strong deterrent, not an unbreakable lock; pair it with a password for real security.
What about copying images, not just text?
Restrict Copying covers both — it blocks extracting text and images, so a reader can't pull your graphics out either.
I also don't want the pages reordered or edited.
Add Restrict Editing and Restrict Assembly when you set the restrictions — that blocks content changes and page insertion, deletion, and rotation too. The full set of six controls is covered in how to restrict a PDF.
Wrap-up
- Drop your PDF into Add Restrictions.
- Tick Restrict Printing and Restrict Copying.
- Click Add Restrictions and share the result.
It stops casual printing and copying in normal readers — just remember it's a deterrent, not encryption. For the full list of restrictions and the security picture, see how to restrict a PDF.