Permanently black out text and areas in a PDF. Redacted pages are flattened, so nothing underneath can be copied or recovered. Redaction runs in your browser, so the sensitive file is never uploaded, and there's no size limit or sign-up.
How to use Redact PDF
Choose a PDF to redact.
Draw boxes over areas, or use Find text to redact and tick the matches to cover.
Pick a Box colour, Black or White, and optionally Remove document info.
Click Redact and download the PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I permanently redact text in a PDF?
Mark the text or areas and click Redact. Each page with a redaction is turned into an image with the boxes burned in, so the original text is gone, not just covered.
Can I search for words to redact?
Yes. Type a word or phrase in Find text to redact, click Find, and every match in the document is listed with a checkbox so you can choose which to redact.
Why does search find nothing on my scanned PDF?
A scan has no text layer to search. Draw boxes over the areas by hand instead; they're redacted the same way.
Will redacted pages still have selectable text?
No. Redacted pages are flattened into images at 200 dpi, so their text can't be selected. Pages without redactions are left as they are.
How is this different from Whiteout or a black rectangle?
Drawing a box in a PDF editor only covers the text; it can still be copied or the box removed. Here the page is rebuilt as a picture with the box in it, so there's nothing underneath.
Can it remove hidden metadata too?
Yes. Tick Remove document info to clear the title, author, keywords and similar fields.
Is my document uploaded to redact it?
No. Redaction happens in your browser, which matters for sensitive documents.
What people redact
Redact removes content for good. To only discourage copying, a watermark is enough; to drop whole pages, delete them. Check the result, then password protect it if it still holds private details.
Aadhaar, PAN and bank account numbers before sharing a copy for KYC or a rental agreement.
Salary figures or balances on payslips and statements sent as proof of address or employment.
Names, phone numbers and addresses in documents shared publicly or with a wider team.