Fix "This Document Cannot Be Printed" PDF Error
The "This document cannot be printed" error is a PDF permissions restriction. Here's how to identify it, work around it legitimately, and prevent it from locking your own documents.
When you see "This document cannot be printed" in Adobe Reader or Acrobat, it means the PDF's security settings have explicitly disabled printing. This is a deliberate restriction set by whoever created the document — not a bug, not a file error. This guide explains how permissions work, how to check what's locked, and what your legitimate options are for getting a printable copy.
How PDF Print Permissions Work
PDF documents have two permission categories: user-level restrictions (set with an owner password) and viewer-level compliance. When an owner sets a PDF to "no printing allowed," that flag is embedded in the PDF's encryption dictionary. Adobe Reader respects this flag. However, not all viewers do — Chrome's PDFium ignores some permission flags by design, as Google's position is that permissions without a user password are advisory, not enforceable. This creates a practical difference: a "no print" PDF might be printable from Chrome but not from Acrobat.
Check What Permissions Are Applied
In Adobe Reader: File → Properties → Security tab. Look for "Printing: Not Allowed" in the Document Restrictions Summary. This confirms the error is permissions-based. Also note the "Security Method" — if it says "Password Security," there's an owner password that controls permissions. If it says "Certificate Security" or "Adobe LiveCycle Rights Management," the restriction is more deeply embedded and harder to work around. Take note of which type before trying any fix.
Fix 1 — Try Printing From Chrome or Edge
Open the PDF in Chrome (drag file onto a Chrome tab) or Microsoft Edge. Both browsers' PDF viewers have more lenient permission enforcement than Adobe Reader. Press Ctrl+P. If print preview loads normally, you can print. This works because Chrome's position is that printing permission flags without an encrypting user password are not security controls — they're advisory preferences that the viewer may choose to honour or ignore. This is the fastest fix for most user-restriction PDFs.
Fix 2 — Remove Print Restrictions With FixMyPDF
If you are the legitimate owner of the document or have been given authorisation to print it, FixMyPDF's unlock tool removes owner-level restrictions including the print prohibition. Upload the PDF, and the tool strips the permission flags. The output is an unlocked PDF that you can print from any application. Note: this only works on PDFs where restrictions are the only protection — if there's also a user-open password you don't have, the file cannot be processed.
Fix 3 — Ask the Document Owner for a Printable Version
If the PDF was sent to you by someone else and you have a legitimate need to print it, contact the sender. They can re-export the document with printing enabled — in Adobe Acrobat: File → Properties → Security → Change Settings, then set Printing to "Allowed" and save. Many people add print restrictions accidentally when using PDF export settings they don't fully understand. The restriction is trivial to remove at the source.
Setting Print Permissions on Your Own PDFs
If this error appeared on a document you created and didn't intend to lock, check your PDF export settings. In Microsoft Word: File → Export → Create PDF/XPS → Options — look for an "Encrypt the document with a password" or "Restrict editing" checkbox that may have been checked. In Adobe Acrobat Pro: File → Properties → Security. Google Docs and LibreOffice export with no restrictions by default. If you regularly share PDFs that people need to print, leave all permission options at their defaults.
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