If you can’t select or copy text in a PDF in Preview on Mac

When you’re viewing a PDF in Preview and you can’t select or copy text, try the following.

Open Preview for me

  1. Go to the Preview app on your Mac.

  2. Go to the PDF page you want to change.

  3. Check the following:

    • The Text Selection tool may not be selected: Choose Tools > Text Selection, or click the Show Markup Toolbar button, then click the Text Selection button.

    • The PDF may require a password before you can select or copy text: Choose Tools > Show Inspector, click the Encryption Inspector button, then enter the password.

Morty Proxy This is a proxified and sanitized view of the page, visit original site.
Helpful?
Character limit: 250
Maximum character limit is 250.
Thanks for your feedback.
Morty Proxy This is a proxified and sanitized view of the page, visit original site.