How to print a password protect PDF that won't let you print?

Ghost script can process password protected PDF file. There's even a script called pdf_unlock.py that uses Ghost script to remove security features, allowing for unrestricted printing and copying. In theory, you can use it to bypass the restriction and then print your file.

However, using Ghost script directly involves the command line. A command to create a PDF with printing disabled might look something like this:

bash

gswin64c,exe -q -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sOutputFile=protected_no_print,pdf -sUser Password=123456 -sOwnerPassword=888888 -dPermissions=-4 demo,pdf

The -dPermissions=-4 part is what blocks printing.

💡 How to (Safely) Print Password Protect PDF File

1. Update Ghost script: First, make sure you are using Ghost script 10.05.1 or newer. That's the only way to avoid the password leak issue.
2. Get the Right Tools: You'll need to either know the Ghost script commands to unlock the file or use a script like pdf_unlock.py that handles the heavy lifting.
3. Process the File: Run Ghost script (or the script) to strip the printing restriction from the PDF.

After that, the PDF will be unlocked, and you'll be able to print password protect PDF file like any normal file. It's a bit of a process, but if you're comfortable with the command line and you have the latest version, Ghost script is a free and powerful way to go.