Is there a way to let visitors print an embedded PDF while preventing them from downloading it? This is a common request, but the way browsers handle printing makes it technically impossible to allow one without the other.
This guide explains how this works in PDF Embedder and what your real options are.
How Printing Works in PDF Embedder
No version of PDF Embedder includes a dedicated Print button in the embedded viewer toolbar. Printing is not a built-in toolbar action.
Our PDF Embedder Premium plugin includes an optional Download button. A visitor who downloads the PDF can then open it in their default PDF reader and print from there. This button can be enabled globally for all PDF documents or on a per-file basis using the download shortcode attribute.
Why You Cannot Separate Print from Download
For a browser to print a document, it must first load the full file locally. Once the browser has the file, most browsers let the user save it as a PDF via “Print to PDF” rather than sending it to a physical printer. Enabling printing always makes the original file obtainable.
This applies even to the secure viewer. The Pro and Elite plans make it difficult for users to obtain the original PDF via direct URL, but printing cannot be enabled while keeping downloads blocked. The two are inseparable at the browser level.
Browser behavior also varies by user: some will be prompted to select a printer, others will see a save dialog. There is no way to force one behavior over another.
Frequently asked questions
Below are some common questions about printing in PDF Embedder.
Does the secure viewer prevent printing?
No. If the download button is enabled, users can download and then print. Secure mode protects against direct URL access to the file, but does not restrict what a user does with a copy they have downloaded it through the viewer.