What PDF Redactor does
PDF Redactor permanently removes sensitive content from a PDF. Drag black boxes over account numbers, addresses, signatures, photographs or anything else that must not be seen, and save a new file in which that content no longer exists.
Why a drawn rectangle is not redaction
In many editors you can draw a black shape over text. It looks hidden, but the words are still in the file beneath the shape. Anyone can select the area, copy it and paste the “hidden” text somewhere else. Documents are exposed this way regularly. Real redaction has to remove the underlying content, not cover it.
How this tool removes content
Each page on which you mark at least one box is rebuilt as an image: the page is drawn at high resolution, the black boxes are painted into the picture, and that picture replaces the original page. The text, vector graphics and embedded images of the original page are not copied into the new file, so there is nothing under the box to recover. Pages you do not mark are copied unchanged.
How to redact a PDF
- Add your PDF. The first page opens in the workspace.
- Drag a box over each item to remove. Draw as many boxes as you need.
- Use the page buttons to go through every page. Undo removes the last box; Clear page removes all boxes on the page.
- Press Redact and save, then download the new file.
- Verify the result before you share it.
How to verify
- Open the new file and try to select text under a box. On a redacted page nothing should be selectable.
- Search the document for the words or numbers you removed.
- Run the file through Extract Text from PDF and confirm they do not appear.
What changes in the file
| Redacted pages | Other pages | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Same, with black boxes | Unchanged |
| Text selectable and searchable | No — the page is an image | Yes |
| Sharpness | Slightly softer than the original | Unchanged |
| Form fields and links | Removed | Kept |
Things the tool does not do for you
- It does not find sensitive data. You must look at every page. The same name or number often appears in headers, footers, stamps and signatures.
- Check document properties too. The redacted file is built as a new document, so the original title and author properties are not copied into it. It is still good practice to confirm this with PDF Metadata Viewer before sharing.
- It cannot be reversed. Keep the original in a safe place.
Use cases
- Hiding account and card numbers on a statement shared as proof of address.
- Removing ID numbers from documents sent to a landlord or employer, where they are not required.
- Blacking out other people's names and contact details in correspondence.
- Removing prices or signatures from a document used as a sample.
For legal and regulated work
For court filings, regulatory disclosures and bulk redaction, follow your organisation's approved software and review process. This tool suits everyday personal and office needs.
Privacy
Redaction is carried out in your browser on your own device. The PDF is not uploaded to our server.
