How to fix Preview 'can't edit PDF” error on Mac

Although the preview application (Preview) that comes with Mac system can open PDF files, its editing function is limited, which often causes users to encounter problems when editing PDFs. This article will explore common reasons and solutions for Preview's inability to edit PDFs, and recommend some efficient alternatives.

Reasons why Preview cannot edit PDF:

• Lack of editing functions: Preview is mainly used to view and label PDFs. It is not a professional PDF editor and cannot directly edit PDF text.
• PDF files are protected: PDF files may have read-only permissions set to prevent any editing operations.
• Preview software failure: The software version is too old or malfunctioning may also cause editing.

Solutions and alternatives:

1. Unable to select text (scanned PDF):

Preview cannot directly edit scanned PDF text. The solution is to extract the text first:

1. Open the file in Preview.
2. Select Edit > Select All.
3. Select Edit > Copy.
4. Open the text editor to paste the text.

A more convenient way is to use OCR software, such as Prizmo, which recognizes text in an image and converts it into editable text.

1. Open Prizmo and select "New File".
2. Select "Open image file" and select the target file.
3. Click "Recognize".

2. Unable to edit embedded text:

Preview cannot edit existing text in PDF directly. It is recommended to use a professional PDF editor such as Nitro PDF Pro, which provides powerful text editing capabilities.

1. Open the file in Nitro PDF Pro.
2. Select the text and click "Correct Text".
3. Delete existing text and enter new text.

3. Check and lift PDF restrictions:

If the PDF file is locked, it cannot be edited. Release method:

1. Select PDF file in Finder.
2. Right-click, select Show Introduction or press Command I.
3. Uncheck "Lock".

4. Preview freezes or crashes:

If Preview freezes while editing or saving, try force exiting and restarting. You can also delete the following cache files:

1. Hold down the Option key and select Go to > Library.
2. Delete the following file (if it exists):
   • Caches/com.apple.Preview
   • Containers/com.apple.Preview
   • Preferences/com.apple.Preview.LSSharedFileList.plist
   • Preferences/com.apple.Preview.SandboxedPersistentURLs.LSSharedFileList.plist
   • Saved Application State/com.apple.Preview.savedState

If the problem persists, consider using CPU management tools such as App Tamer to optimize system resources.

5. Crashing when preview merges or searches for PDF:

Try updating macOS to the latest version. If the search crashes, it may be that the Spotlight index is corrupted and the index needs to be rebuilt:

1. Go to System Settings > Siri and Spotlight.
2. Click "Spotlight Privacy" to add and delete disks or folders that need to be reindexed.

For efficient PDF search, you can use the PDF Search application.

Summarize:

Preview is not a professional PDF editor. For complex editing needs, it is recommended to use professional tools such as Nitro PDF Pro, Prizmo and PDF Search. Setapp offers a seven-day free trial of these apps.

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