Make PDF Read Only Made Simple For Free

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Up to 100 MB for PDF and up to 25 MB for DOC, DOCX, RTF, PPT, PPTX, JPEG, PNG, JFIF, XLS, XLSX or TXT
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Last updated on Sep 20, 2025

Discover the simplicity of processing PDFs online

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Upload your document in seconds
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Fill out, edit, or eSign your PDF hassle-free
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Download, export, or share your edited file instantly
Top-rated PDF software recognized for its ease of use, powerful features, and impeccable support
Users Most Likely To Recommend - Summer 2025
Grid Leader in Small-Business - Summer 2025
High Performer - Summer 2025
Regional Leader - Summer 2025
Easiest To Do Business With - Summer 2025
Best Meets Requirements- Summer 2025

Every PDF tool you need to get documents
done paper-free

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Create & edit PDFs

Generate new PDFs from scratch or transform existing documents into reusable templates. Type anywhere on a PDF, rewrite original PDF content, insert images or graphics, redact sensitive details, and highlight important information using an intuitive online editor.
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Fill out & sign PDF forms

Say goodbye to error-prone manual hassles. Complete any PDF document electronically – even while on the go. Pre-fill multiple PDFs simultaneously or extract responses from completed forms with ease.
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Organize & convert PDFs

Add, remove, or rearrange pages inside your PDFs in seconds. Create new documents by merging or splitting PDFs. Instantly convert edited files to various formats when you download or export them.
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Collect data and approvals

Transform static documents into interactive fillable forms by dragging and dropping various types of fillable fields on your PDFs. Publish these forms on websites or share them via a direct link to capture data, collect signatures, and request payments.
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Export documents with ease

Share, email, print, fax, or download edited documents in just a few clicks. Quickly export and import documents from popular cloud storage services like Google Drive, Box, and Dropbox.
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Store documents safely

Store an unlimited number of documents and templates securely in the cloud and access them from any location or device. Add an extra level of protection to documents by locking them with a password, placing them in encrypted folders, or requesting user authentication.

Customer trust by the numbers

64M+
users worldwide
4.6/5
average user rating
4M
PDFs edited per month
9 min
average to create and edit a PDF
Join 64+ million people using paperless workflows to drive productivity and cut costs

Why choose our PDF solution?

Cloud-native PDF editor

Access powerful PDF tools, as well as your documents and templates, from anywhere. No installation needed.

Top-rated for ease of use

Create, edit, and fill out PDF documents faster with an intuitive UI that only takes minutes to master.

Industry-leading customer service

Enjoy peace of mind with an award-winning customer support team always within reach.

What our customers say about pdfFiller

See for yourself by reading reviews on the most popular resources:
So far it has been frustrating ( just because I am not tech savvy) I am just trying to reprint a pay stub that I have lost from a former employer and I just keep running into problems. However after watching a video I figured it out without a problem. Customer service is A1.
Shannon V
2017-09-01
I'm so glad that I can fill in all the forms and documents easily with PDF filler. Before it was so frustrating not to be able to sign my name, PDF Filler is great!
Michele D
2018-01-30
There doesnt seem to be alot of "man in the street" logic to how you explain things. It seems to be written by Code cutters or IT people. Lots of simple things like , I look up how to save a document. You say : Save your document by clicking the 'Save as PDF' button in either the "MyForms" . There is NO such button only a "save as" button. Also Where is the "My Forms" page? is it named as such or .... ????Bascally though, its a great piece of software. You just have to get a REAL human being to rewrite instructions.
Frank G
2018-10-16
My wife had some US Government forms that needed to be filled out and returned. Because of her medical condition, she couldn't fill them out longhand, and she asked me if there was a way she could type and fill them in. We couldn't find access to a typewriter (WHAT'S THAT???), but I searched on Google and found information about your app. I had worked with some PC-based forms applications before, so I knew what type of function I was looking for. I scanned the forms into a PDF, and PDFfiller opened the files and allowed me to create editable fields on the forms which she then filled using your browser-based app. It got the job done! There were a couple times where she thought she had lost everything, but because of the automatic save function, nothing was lost. Unfortunately, I don't have any other immediate need for this, but I certainly hope you use this for promoting your product. I would have given it 5 stars had there been an apparent way of copying all the fields I added to one page and paste them onto identical subsequent pages in my document (you know the Government--lots of duplicate type information!). I had to create the same fields over about 8 or 9 identical pages on one of the forms. If I find I do have more use for this app in the near future, I will purchase it!
Dan A
2019-02-19
This app is great This app is great. I wish there were more affordable options. I have used it a lot recently but this will not be normal. But it would be convenient to use sporadically at a lesser cost.
RYAN GOUVIN
2022-09-04
experience At first it seemed hard, trying to figure out how to save the completed document, and to get to the next step of saving the document and sending it by email. But I got it now. Thanks
Brenda Thompson
2022-07-25
I found that I no longer needed pdfFiller but the subscription was renewed. Upon advising prfFiller they promptly refunded the subscription. A good and honest company.
Bruce R
2022-03-20
so far what ive done with the PDFFILLER so far has been complicated rather its been simplistic in a professional manner. By choosing simplistic is meant as negativity rather the layout is made up for every skill level accomplish individual task. with that said give it a try Im confident it will meet ones expectations!!!
Steve B
2021-12-15
PDFfiller worked flawlessly. The one time I contacted their support with a request they responded promptly and professionally - very impressive. Highly recommend.
Peggy M
2020-06-04

How to Make PDF Read Only Online

Even if someone without your permission tries to open your document, they won’t be able to access the data. Just follow the common security recommendations and don't worry about your content being given away. As long as you remember the password or access the document from your pdfFiller account, you can edit it anytime from anywhere.

Make PDF Read Only Feature

The Make PDF Read Only feature provides a simple way to safeguard your important documents from unwanted changes. By enabling this feature, you ensure that only authorized individuals can view your PDF files, while preventing any edits or alterations.

Key Features

Restrict editing capabilities to maintain document integrity
Easy to use interface for quick setup
Compatible with various PDF readers
Secure your sensitive information from unauthorized modifications
Customizable permissions for different users

Potential Use Cases and Benefits

Protecting contracts and legal documents from alterations
Securing educational materials and research papers
Maintaining the integrity of financial reports and presentations
Safeguarding sensitive client information in business workflows
Ensuring that marketing materials are viewed as intended without changes

This feature addresses the common problem of unwanted edits and alterations in PDF documents. By using the Make PDF Read Only feature, you can confidently share your important files without worrying about how they may be changed. Empower yourself with control over your documents and preserve their original content effectively.

Get documents done
from anywhere

Create, edit, and share PDFs even on the go. The pdfFiller app equips you with every tool you need to manage documents on your mobile device. Try it now on iOS or Android!

How to Use the Make PDF Read Only Made Simple Feature

The Make PDF Read Only Made Simple feature in pdfFiller allows you to easily make your PDF documents read-only, ensuring that the content cannot be edited or modified by anyone else. Follow these simple steps to use this feature:

01
Login to your pdfFiller account and navigate to the 'My Documents' section.
02
Select the PDF document you want to make read-only by clicking on it.
03
Once the document is open, click on the 'More' button located at the top-right corner of the screen.
04
From the dropdown menu, choose the 'Make PDF Read Only' option.
05
A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click on the 'Make Read Only' button to proceed.
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Your PDF document is now read-only. It cannot be edited or modified by anyone else.
07
To share the read-only PDF with others, click on the 'Share' button and choose the desired sharing method (email, link, etc.).

By following these steps, you can easily make your PDF documents read-only using the Make PDF Read Only Made Simple feature in pdfFiller. This feature provides an added layer of security and ensures that your document's content remains intact and unaltered.

Did you know?

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You can easily make a closed Word document read only by changing its properties. If you need to make an opening Word document open only after editing, you can apply the Restrict Editing feature to get it done easily. Other than Restrict Editing, you also can make opening Word documents read only using the Save As Tools feature .

For pdfFiller’s FAQs

Below is a list of the most common customer questions. If you can’t find an answer to your question, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
What if I have more questions?
Contact Support
Protect the document, so it is not editable. Press "Ctrl-A" to select the entire document, or click “Select" in the Editing group of the Home tab and choose “Select All." Select the "Developer" tab and click “Restrict Editing" in the Protect group. Save the document before closing it.

#1 usability according to G2

Try the PDF solution that respects your time.
Users Most Likely To Recommend - Summer 2025
Grid Leader in Small-Business - Summer 2025
High Performer - Summer 2025
Regional Leader - Summer 2025
Easiest To Do Business With - Summer 2025
Best Meets Requirements- Summer 2025