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How to Convert PDF to Writable Files in Mac OS X/Windows

Sometimes, your PDF files are actually writable. However, your operating system marks it as only readable. To make PDF writable in this situation, all you need is right-click on the PDF file, choose "Properties", uncheck the "Read-only" box and click "Apply". And sometimes your PDF is not writable, that's because they are secured with passwords or they are scanned PDF files. To make PDF writable, you need a powerful PDF tool to convert PDF to writable file formats.

Part 1Best Tool You Need to Make PDF Writable

Writable PDF

Wondershare PDFelement is a cost-effective tool which enables you to convert PDF to writable formats. If your PDF files are protected from copying and printing, you can use it to convert them to Microsoft Word, Excel, Images, PowerPoint, EPUB, TEXT and HTML.

If your PDF is "Read-Only" format, or you want to make image writable, you can enable OCR feature of Wondershare PDFelement. It can convert any scanned PDF to writable and searchable formats as requirements. The tool can also help you to create PDF, create fillable forms and annotate PDFs and so on.

Part 2How to Make PDF to Writable Formats in Mac/Windows

Below are steps to convert PDF to writable files in Mac OS X.

Step 1. Upload PDFs to Make it Writable

Drag and drop PDF files to the Wondershare PDFelement for mac. Batch conversion is supported, so to save time, just upload an array of PDF files to the app.

  • If the PDF files you've uploaded are scanned ones, ensure the OCR function is enabled. On Wondershare PDFelment for mac, tick the "Enable OCR" option at yellow rabbon on the top of the window.
  • If the PDF files you've uploaded are native PDF files that are protected from copying, editing or printing, skip to step 2.

Step 2. Select the Writable File Format

On PDFelement for mac, click the "Convert" button on the right-top toolbar and a window will pup-up. Click the little settings button to reveal the output format list. On it, select a writable file format for the output documents, say MS Word, Excel, PPT, Plain Text, and so on.

Step 3. Convert PDF to Writable File

Click the "Convert" button to convert PDF to writable file. Bingo! In a few minutes, you'll see writable files in the default folder.

Below are steps to convert PDF to writable files in Windows.

Step 1. Upload PDFs to Make it Writable

Upload the PDF files you want to make it writable to Wondershare PDFelement. You can simply drag it to the program. or you can click on the "Open..." button on the main interface.

If your PDF is scanned PDF or image PDF, you should enable OCR feature first. You can click on the "OCR" button on the "Edit" tab and follow the instruction to perform OCR for your PDF.

Step 2. Select the Writable File Format

Click on the "Home" tab, you will see there are many options for conversion. You can either choose "To Word" "To Excel" "To Powerpoint" "To Text" "To Image" or "To Other". They are all writable formats and you can choose based on your personal use.

Step 3. Convert PDF to Writable File

After you have clicked on the "To Word" button, a window will appear and you can set options here. And finally, click the "Convert" button to start the conversion process.

This is how to convert readable only PDF to writable files. Wondershare PDFelement is a nice app to deal with the task. Of course, you're able to select Adobe Acrobat X to do the task as well. However, when converting a password protected PDF file, you are demanded to enter the right password on Acrobat.

Wondershare Editor

Posted by to Convert PDF | Follow @elisewilliams7
Published: Jul 10,2015 14:23 pm / Updated: May 25,2016 14:01 pm

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