Copy text from locked PDFs on Mac

Locked PDFs don't require you to manually type a wall of text.

There are few things worse than trying to copy a string of text from a PDF only to find that you can't highlight any text at all. Fortunately, bypassing a locked PDF is simple enough Mac.

If you've ever tried unsuccessfully to highlight text in a PDF, you're in possession of a locked PDF. A PDF can be locked for many legitimate reasons, such as copyright protection. However, sometimes all you need to do is copy a longer piece of text or much smaller pieces of text from a document that is not locked.

Fortunately, the solution doesn't mean you have to type everything out manually. Even better: the solution is installed directly macOS and requires very little leg work.

How to copy text from a locked PDF using Preview

In 2021, Apple introduced the Live Text feature iOS 15 And macOS Monterey. This feature allows users to copy text from images they have created. With macOS' Live Text feature and built-in screenshot feature, copying text from a locked PDF is a breeze.

A locked PDF with the text open and highlighted in a screenshot of the PDF. The macOS Sonoma wallpaper is behind both windows.

Using screenshots and examples, you can bypass locked PDFs using only the tools present on your Mac.

  1. Open the PDF from which you want to copy text

  2. Take a screenshot of the text you want to copy

  3. Open the screenshot Example.

  4. Highlight the text in the screenshot and copy it.

So you have copied text from a locked PDF without any problems. While this will get the job done using just the tools that come standard on your Mac, there is a better way.

Using third-party apps

To cut out a step in the middle, you can use a third-party app that copies text on your screen directly to your clipboard. In particular, CleanShot has a feature that lets you simply highlight an area as you would choose an area for a screenshot, and any text in that area will be copied to your clipboard. However, CleanShot Setappamong many other apps, for $9.99 per month.

A locked PDF with text pasted into a TextEdit window. Both windows sit on top of the macOS Sonoma wallpaper.

Third-party apps make for a slightly faster process, but at a price.

From there you can paste wherever you want. And for those concerned about the tool's privacy, all text recognition is done on your machine. This method can eliminate the step of actually opening a screenshot and highlighting the text to copy it.

If copying text from a locked PDF is something you do regularly, the price for a third-party app may be worth the time you save. For those who need a quick fix, you can absolutely just use the tools already on your Mac.