How can I copy text from PDF? Here's how

Whether text can be copied from a PDF depends on whether the creator of the document has locked the feature. If copying text is allowed, you can copy text from the PDF as usual by mouse click or keyboard shortcut. If not, some tricks will help.

Copy text from a PDF

PDF documents can have numerous settings applied to them when they are created. These lock various functions so that the document cannot be modified by third parties. Among other things, it is also possible to lock the copying of texts here. You can check whether a document contains this lock in the free Adobe Reader program. To do this, open the document and click on "Document properties" at the top. If the value "Invalid" is set here for "Copy content", copying is not possible without further ado. With a little trick, however, it is often possible. To do this, you just need to re-secure the document.

How to copy text from a locked PDF

1. Click with right on the file of the PDF document.
2. Select "Open with" and open the file via your browser.
3. Klicken Sie auf das Menü und wählen Sie „Drucken“.
4. Bei „Ziel“ stellen Sie nun „Als PDF speichern“ ein.
5. Wählen Sie einen Speicherort und bestätigen Sie mit „Drucken“.
6. Öffnen Sie das neue Dokument.
7. Sie können nun Texte kopieren.