How to redact a PDF
- Click Choose PDF. The pages appear below.
- Type a word in the search box (a name, for example) and click Redact to black out every occurrence. Or use the ready-made buttons to find emails, phone numbers, SSNs, Aadhaar and PAN numbers automatically.
- To redact by hand, tap the page over the data (on a computer you can also drag to draw the box). Adjust each box by dragging it or using its corner.
- Choose black or white boxes and click Redact and download.
Real redaction, not just a black rectangle
Drawing a black shape over text in an ordinary editor only hides it: the words are still in the file and anyone can select, copy or search them. Here, every page that has a box is rebuilt as an image with the boxes burned in, so the text underneath no longer exists in the file. Pages without boxes stay exactly as they were. The document's internal information (author, title) is also removed.
When to redact
- Sharing bank statements, payslips or tax returns while hiding account numbers and amounts.
- Sending contracts or court documents with names and addresses blacked out.
- Publishing reports or answering information requests while protecting personal data (GDPR, HIPAA and similar rules).
- Sending a copy of an ID or certificate with only the necessary data visible.
Scanned documents
If the PDF is a scan, there is no text to search: the tool lets you know and you place the boxes by hand. The result is just as safe.
Your sensitive file stays with you
Redaction happens entirely in your browser. The original document, the data you search for and the result are never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Is the redacted text really removed?
Yes. Pages with boxes are rebuilt as images with the boxes applied, so the text underneath no longer exists in the file and can't be selected, copied or recovered.
Can I redact every occurrence of a word at once?
Yes. Type the word or name in the search box and click Redact: every occurrence in the document gets a box.
Can I still select the text on the other pages?
Yes. Only the pages with boxes become images; the others stay exactly as they were.
Does it work with scanned PDFs?
Yes, by hand: tap the page over each item you want to hide.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up, no watermark and no upload.
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