Document security in Blazor SfPdfViewer
17 Jul 20261 minute to read
This article explains how SfPdfViewer handles secured PDF documents, including password-protected files and documents with permission restrictions. It describes expected behavior when opening secured files. It links to task-focused guides for implementation details.
The PDF specification defines two common security configurations:
- Password-protected documents — a password is required to decrypt and open the file.
- Permission-restricted documents — an owner password sets granular permissions such as printing, copying, editing, annotating, and form filling.
Behavior and expectations
- When a password-protected PDF is loaded, the viewer prompts for the password. If the password is incorrect or omitted, the document does not open.
- For permission-restricted PDFs, the viewer reads and enforces the document’s security flags. Disallowed actions (for example, print, copy, or annotate) are disabled in the UI and blocked through APIs.
The viewer enforces the following document permission flags:
- Print: when disallowed, the print action is not available.
- Copy: when disallowed, copy commands are disabled and text selection may be limited.
- Edit / Modify content: when disallowed, content editing actions are not available.
- Annotate: when disallowed, the annotation toolbar and related actions are disabled.
- Form filling: when disallowed, form fields are read-only.