Redact PDFPermanently black out and remove sensitive content from PDF
Permanently remove sensitive information from any PDF document online for free. Draw redaction boxes over text, images, or entire sections - the underlying data is irreversibly destroyed, not just hidden. No upload, no account, no software to install.
Black Out Sensitive Text and Images
Upload your PDF and draw redaction boxes over any content you want removed. Names, addresses, phone numbers, financial data, signatures - select it and it is permanently destroyed. The redacted areas appear as solid black boxes in the output, and the original content underneath is completely gone from the file data.
True Redaction, Not Just a Black Box
A drawn rectangle or highlight only hides content visually - the original text remains in the PDF and can be copied, searched, or extracted. True redaction permanently deletes the underlying data from the file structure. After redacting here, no tool, script, or forensic method can recover the removed content. This meets legal and compliance standards for document redaction.
Redact PDF Without Uploading to a Server
Documents that need redaction are usually the most sensitive files you have - legal filings, medical records, financial statements. This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your PDF is never transmitted anywhere. No cloud processing, no temporary server copies, no third-party access to your confidential content.
Flatten or Protect After Redacting
After redacting, consider running Flatten PDF to merge all remaining annotations into static content. Then use Protect PDF to add password protection before sharing. This combination ensures the document cannot be modified further after you have sanitized it.
How to Redact a PDF Online
Upload Your PDF
Drag and drop your PDF or click to browse. No file size limits.
Mark Areas to Redact
Draw boxes over sensitive content. Search for specific text to redact all occurrences at once.
Apply and Download
Click Redact. The content is permanently destroyed and you download the sanitized PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I redact text in a PDF?
Upload the PDF, draw a box over the text you want removed, and click Redact. The text is permanently deleted from the file - not just hidden visually.
Is this true redaction or just a black box?
True redaction. The underlying data is permanently removed from the PDF file structure. It cannot be recovered, copied, searched, or extracted by any means.
Can I search and redact specific words?
Yes. Search for a name, number, or phrase and redact every occurrence throughout the document in one operation.
Can I undo a redaction?
No. Redaction is permanent and irreversible by design. Your original file on disk is never modified - keep it if you need an unredacted copy.
Is my sensitive document uploaded anywhere?
No. The entire redaction runs in your browser. Your file never leaves your device. No server ever sees your content.
Can I redact images and logos?
Yes. Draw a redaction box over any area - text, images, logos, signatures, tables. Everything within the box is permanently removed.
Does redacting reduce file size?
Often yes. The removed content is deleted from the file, so heavily redacted documents can be noticeably smaller.
Should I flatten after redacting?
Recommended. Use Flatten PDF after redacting to ensure no hidden layers or annotations remain. Then Protect PDF to lock the file.