Redact PDF Online
Black out names, numbers and any sensitive content. Redacted pages are saved as flattened images, so the hidden text cannot be selected or recovered. Your file never leaves your device.
Free to use · Works on any device · Files auto-deleted after processing
Drag and drop here or
File must be a PDF
and size up to 15MB.
How it works?
Upload your file
Drag and drop your .pdf file, or browse from your device.
Mark the content
Drag rectangles over the text or images to hide. Use the page buttons to move through the document.
Download your PDF
Save the redacted copy and check it before you share it.
Why choose our Redact PDF tool?
Real removal
Pages with marked areas are re-drawn as images with the boxes burned in, so the text underneath is gone, not just covered.
Fully private
Redaction happens in your browser. Your document is never uploaded.
Mark any page
Add as many boxes as you need on any page and remove individual boxes before saving.
Untouched pages stay as they are
Only pages you mark are flattened; other pages keep selectable text.
100% free
No hidden fees, no watermark, no signup.
Works everywhere
Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, or Linux. Any modern browser works.
Why not just draw a black box in a PDF editor?
A black rectangle drawn on top of text only hides it visually. The words usually remain in the file and can be selected, copied or extracted. True redaction removes the underlying content. This tool does that by turning each marked page into a flat image with the boxes baked in.
Permanently redact sensitive information in a PDF
Use the Redact PDF tool to black out confidential details such as names, ID numbers, addresses and financial figures. Draw a box over each item and the tool bakes it into the page so it cannot be selected or copied from the result.
Every step happens in your browser, so the original document is not sent to a server. Always open the redacted copy and try selecting the hidden area before you share it.
Quick tips
- Cover a little more than the text so no edges peek out.
- Keep the original file in a safe place; redaction cannot be reversed.
- Compress the result if it grows large after flattening.
How to redact a PDF so the hidden content is really gone
Why does a black box in a PDF not protect anything?
Drawing a black rectangle over text only covers it. The words usually stay in the file underneath, where someone can select, copy or recover them with the right tool. That is why redaction needs to remove the content, not just hide it.
Redact PDF takes a stricter route. For each page you mark, the tool renders the page to an image, burns the black boxes into that image, and replaces the page with it. The original text of that page is no longer in the file.
How do I redact a PDF online step by step?
Upload the PDF, move through the pages with Previous and Next, and drag a box over each name, number or paragraph you want to hide. Marked areas are listed on the right, and you can remove a single box or clear them all before saving.
Click Redact PDF to create the new file. Pages without marks are copied unchanged. Everything runs in your browser, so the document is not uploaded.
What changes in the pages I redact?
Redacted pages become images, so their text can no longer be selected or searched, and the file may grow in size. That is the trade-off that makes the removal permanent. Unmarked pages keep their selectable text.
How should I check a redacted PDF before sharing it?
Open the result and try to select text under each black box. Search for a name or number you redacted. Look at every page, since a missed box leaves the content visible.
The tool only redacts what you mark. It does not search for text or clean document properties, comments or other hidden data. Whether a redaction meets a legal or regulatory requirement is for you to confirm; when the stakes are high, ask your legal or compliance team.
Popular ways to use it
Hide personal details
Black out addresses, phone numbers or ID numbers before sharing a document.
Prepare a document for sharing
Remove names or figures from a report that others should only see in part.
Cover account numbers
Mask card or bank details on a statement or receipt.
Remove a signature or photo
Burn a box over an image or signature so it cannot be reused.
Redact only the pages that need it
Mark just a few pages and keep the rest searchable.
Troubleshooting and common problems
The Redact PDF button is disabled.
You have not marked anything yet. Drag a box on a page first.
I can still see something I wanted to hide.
The box did not fully cover it. Remove the box from the list, mark a larger area, and redact again from your original.
The redacted file is larger than the original.
Redacted pages are stored as images. Use Compress PDF on the result if it is too big.
I cannot search the redacted pages.
That is expected, because those pages are now images. Run OCR PDF on the result if you need searchable text.
Good to know
- Marked pages become images
- This removes the underlying text, but also removes selectable text on those pages.
- Unmarked pages are untouched
- They keep their text and quality.
- Keep the original
- A redaction cannot be reversed in the saved file.
- You are responsible for the check
- Review every page before you share it.
Who uses this tool?
Legal teams
Remove names and case details before sharing documents.
HR and finance
Hide salaries, account numbers and personal data.
Journalists and researchers
Protect sources in documents you publish.
Everyone
Hide an address or ID number before sending a scan.
Supported formats
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| .pdf (redacted) |
FAQs
Is the redacted content really removed?
Yes for the pages you mark. Those pages are rendered to an image with black boxes painted over the chosen areas, so the original text and images under them are not in the new file.
What happens to pages I did not mark?
They are copied unchanged and keep their selectable text.
Why are redacted pages no longer searchable?
Because they become images. This is what makes the removal permanent. Run OCR afterwards if you need searchable text on the visible parts.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser on your device.
Can I undo a redaction?
Not in the saved file, so keep the original. Before saving you can remove any box or clear all of them.
Does redaction change the page quality?
Marked pages are re-rendered at about 2x resolution as a high quality JPEG, so they look sharp but file size can grow.
How do I redact text in a PDF for free?
Upload the PDF, drag boxes over the content to remove, click Redact PDF and download the new file.
Is a black rectangle enough to hide text in a PDF?
No. A shape on top of text only hides it visually. Redacting here removes the content by flattening the page.
How do I permanently redact a PDF?
Mark the areas, then click Redact PDF. Marked pages are re-rendered as images with the black boxes baked in, so the original text on them is gone.
What is the difference between redacting and whiting out?
Whiting out or drawing a box covers content visually. Redacting here replaces the whole page with an image so the content beneath is not stored.
Can I redact a PDF for free without Acrobat?
Yes. This tool runs in your browser, is free, and needs no software or signup.
Does it search for words automatically?
No. You mark areas by dragging, so check every page yourself.
Will the redaction also remove metadata or comments?
This tool redacts the page content you mark. It does not clean document properties, so check those separately if they matter.