Why can't I edit a PDF after signing?

When you sign a PDF using your digital ID, the PDF becomes read-only for others. If you received a PDF digitally signed by others, you can sign it, but can't edit it. While signing a PDF, if the signer chooses to lock the document after signing, the document becomes read-only for everyone, including the signer.

How do I edit a PDF after signing?

If you are the owner of the digital certificate used to sign the document and the document wasn't locked when signed, you can open the Signatures' pane at the left and right-click on the signature to clear it. After that, if the PDF document is a form, you can clear or edit its fields.

How do I unlock a PDF after signing?

Click the 'Lock' icon in the upper-left corner of the page. Click the link labeled: Permission Details. In the “Security Method' drop down, select: No Security. Enter your unlock password and click the OK button three times.

How do I create a fillable field and signature in PDF?

It's easy to create fillable PDF form in Adobe Acrobat. Open Acrobat. Select a file or scan a document. Add new form fields. To change existing text boxes or images, click Edit in the toolbar. Save your fillable PDF.

How do I make a PDF non editable after signing?

How to make a PDF read-only with Adobe Acrobat. Select Tools. Choose Protect. Choose Restrict Editing.

How do I edit a PDF fillable form after saving?

To resolve this, follow these steps: Step 1: Open the PDF Document. Step 2: Access the "Prepare Form" Tool. Step 3: Select Form Fields for Editing. Step 4: Open Form Field Properties. Step 5: Unlock the Form Fields. Step 6: Finalize Changes. Step 7: Preview and Save. Step 8: Save and Close the Document.

How to edit a PDF that has been signed and cannot be edited?

If you want to make extensive changes to a file signed by someone else or annotate, sign, or convert a locked (read-only) file, your best option to edit a digitally signed PDF is to contact the person who signed it and request the signature to be removed, receive an unsigned copy of the file, or to have them send you

How do you edit PDF that Cannot be edited?

How To Edit a Secured PDF Drop your protected PDF into our Unlock PDF tool. Pinky-swear you have the right to edit the file. Enter the password when prompted. Wait for the PDF to unlock, then select “Edit PDF.” Edit your document, then download—done!

Home
Functionality index

Switch from SmallPDF to pdfFiller for a Modify Conditional Fields to Template for Signature Solution For Free

Drop document here to upload

Up to 100 MB for PDF and up to 25 MB for DOC, DOCX, RTF, PPT, PPTX, JPEG, PNG, JFIF, XLS, XLSX or TXT

Based on 12500+ reviews

Last updated on Dec 31, 2025

Document creation is just the beginning

Learn more about security

Create and edit documents with a trusted solution

Try easy-to-use tools for all your document management needs.

Upload your document

pdfFiller scores top ratings on review platforms

This program is very useful for filling out tax forms. Although my returns are not complicated, getting the credit that I am due for foreign taxes is too much for tax programs like HR Block and too much for most accountants. I have returned to my old habit of doing my returns manually. This PDFfiller program makes it feasible.

Marc

This is amazing! It is simple to edit a PDF document and also has so many other option to use. I was just going to do the trial, but now I will be subscribing to this service.

Jo S

What do you like best?
I like how easy it is to create forms and to fill out PDF forms. I also like the mobile app.
What do you dislike?
It's a bit slow, and sometimes crashes, requiring you to start over
Recommendations to others considering the product:
Definitely get and use the mobile app
What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?
It makes it very easy to fill in forms that clients send me.

User in Law Practice

VA Documentation and Form filling. I had some VA documents and forms i needed to type out and no way to fill them in online. pdfFiller to the rescue! I was able to easily fill out the required information and to have them submitted. I may be helping as a Veteran Services Officer here in Panama, and this will come in handy as I help veterans get their submissions in that is readable and neat. Thank you pdfFiller for your great product!

ddaniel727

I love it, you got everything very nicely put together and easy to understand. Please, keep up the good work guys, and may "The Most High God" keep blessing you!

JAH

This application is HEAVEN SENT This application is HEAVEN SENT. Way easier to navigate than Adobe in my opinion. I will definitely be recommending to others!

Maya Jourdan

Show more Show less

Watch pdfFiller eSignatures in action

Check out a quick video tutorial that shows how to create and place your signature or send a document for signing.

Related features

Create and edit documents with a trusted solution

Try easy-to-use tools for all your document management needs.

Upload your document