How to stop people editing, printing or copying your PDF on a Mac
Let people open a PDF but not change, print or copy it, with Preview's Edit Permissions on a Mac. What it protects against, and what it cannot stop.
The problem
You are sending a PDF, a price list or a draft, and you want people to read it without changing it, copying it out, or printing a hundred copies.
How do I make a PDF read only on a Mac?
- Open the PDF in Preview and choose File > Edit Permissions.
- Untick what readers may not do: printing, copying text and graphics, changing pages, adding annotations, filling forms.
- Set an owner password. You need it to change the permissions later.
- Save, or export under a new name to keep an unlocked original.
Can people get around PDF permissions?
Yes, some. Most apps respect the settings, which stops casual changes. But some tools ignore them, and nothing stops a screenshot or a photo of the screen. Treat permissions as a polite lock, not a safe.
What protects a PDF properly?
- If people must not read it without permission: add an open password.
- If you need to trace a leak: a watermark with the recipient's name works better than any lock.
Our take
Watermark before you lock. Permissions stop the honest reader from doing something by accident; a name across every page is what stops the other kind, because a leaked copy says who it came from.
In Simply PDF
Simply PDF adds an open password and puts watermarks on every page, on your Mac. Both need a key.
Questions
How do I make a PDF read only on a Mac?
In Preview, choose File > Edit Permissions, untick what readers may not do, and set an owner password.
Can people get around PDF permissions?
Some tools ignore them, and nothing stops screenshots. Use an open password or a watermark for stronger control.