Redact PDF
Permanently black out text and areas in a PDF. Search for words or draw boxes; covered content is removed, not just hidden.
Drop the PDF to redact
Black out names, numbers and anything private, for good.
How to use Redact PDF
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Open the PDF
Drop the PDF with private content.
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Box what to hide
Search for words to box every match, or drag boxes over anything else.
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Redact and download
Press Redact; the boxed content is removed from the new file.
About this tool
Black out names, account numbers, faces and anything else private, and make sure it is really gone. Type the words to hide and every match is boxed for you, or drag boxes by hand over text, signatures or pictures. Check the boxes on the page, then save.
Real redaction removes what is underneath. Drawing a black rectangle over text in an ordinary PDF editor leaves the text in the file, where anyone can select and copy it. Here, every page that has a box is turned into a picture with the boxes burned in, so the text and shapes beneath them no longer exist in the new file. Pages without boxes are left untouched and keep their selectable text. After saving, the tool re-reads the result and tells you whether any of your search words can still be found.
Redacted pages can’t be searched or copied afterwards, because they are pictures; use a higher quality setting for sharper text. Bookmarks, attached files and document details are separate from the pages: the tool can clear the details, and Sanitize PDF removes attachments. Everything happens in your browser and the file is not uploaded.
How do I permanently redact a PDF?
Open it here, box the words to hide (search or draw), and save. Pages with boxes are rebuilt as pictures, so the covered content is removed rather than just hidden.
Is covering text with a black box enough?
Not in a normal PDF editor. The text stays underneath and can be copied. This tool burns the boxes into a picture of the page, which is what removes it.
Why can’t I select text on the redacted pages?
Those pages become pictures, which is what makes the redaction permanent. Pages without boxes keep their text.
What does redaction not cover?
Things outside the page content: bookmarks, attached files, comments and the document’s title and author. Clear the details here and use Sanitize PDF for attachments and comments.