Redact PDF Online
Draw boxes over sensitive information and black it out for good. Everything happens in your browser.
Select a PDF to redact
Click to browse or drag & drop a PDF document
Ready to redact
Mark what to hide
Drag on the page to draw a box. Boxes are solid black in the saved file. On a phone, switch drawing off to scroll the page. Keyboard: press Add box, then use the arrow keys to move it, plus and minus to resize it and Delete to remove it.
Nothing selected yet
How to Redact a PDF Online
Covering text with a black rectangle in a normal PDF editor often leaves the original text underneath, where anyone can copy it. This tool removes it properly: every page with a box is redrawn as an image with the black boxes painted into the pixels.
- Upload your PDF: Click "Choose PDF File" and select the document that contains sensitive information.
- Draw boxes: Go through the pages and drag a box over each name, number, address or other detail you want to hide. Undo or delete any box you do not need.
- Choose the quality: Pick the resolution and image format for the redacted pages. The default suits most documents.
- Redact and check: Press "Redact & Download PDF", then open the new file and try to select or search the hidden text to confirm it is gone.
Key Features
- Real removal, not a cover-up: Pages with boxes are rebuilt as images, so the original text on them is not in the new file.
- Draw, move and undo: Draw boxes with a mouse or finger, adjust them with the keyboard and undo mistakes.
- Only the pages you mark change: Pages without boxes are copied as they are, so they stay sharp and searchable.
- Choose the quality: Pick 150, 200 or 300 DPI and JPEG or PNG to balance file size and sharpness.
- Works on phones: Switch drawing off to scroll the page, or add a box with the button and move it with the keys.
- Free and private: No sign-up and no upload. The document stays in your browser, which matters most for confidential files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the hidden text really removed from the PDF?
On every page where you drew a box, yes. That page is redrawn as an image with the boxes painted solid black, and the original page content is not copied into the new file. Pages without boxes are copied unchanged, so any text on them stays.
Why can I not select or search text on the redacted pages?
Because those pages are now pictures. That is what makes the removal permanent, but it also means the visible text on those pages is no longer searchable.
How big will the new file be?
It depends on the document. Image pages can be larger or smaller than the original pages. Choose 150 DPI and JPEG for a smaller file, or 300 DPI and PNG for the sharpest result.
Is anything else in the file left over?
Pages you did not mark are copied as they are, including any comments or hidden content on them. The original document properties such as title and author are not copied into the new file. Always check the result before you share it.
Can it find and hide text automatically?
No. You mark the areas yourself, so you stay in control of exactly what is hidden. Look through every page, including headers and footers.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. Redaction runs entirely in your browser. Your document never leaves your device.