Redact PDF

Permanently black out names, numbers and other personal data in a PDF. Search for text or draw boxes, and the content underneath is destroyed, not just covered.

Reviewed by Dany, RightSums team · Updated

Runs in your browser. Your files are not uploaded.

pdf-security · PDF tool · UK & US

Open a PDF, search for words, phrases or patterns such as email addresses and National Insurance numbers, or draw boxes over anything you want gone. When you apply the redactions, every page with a black box is flattened into an image with the box burned in, so the text, images and annotations underneath no longer exist in the file. Pages without redactions are copied across unchanged. The file is processed in your browser and never uploaded.

Accepted inputs

  • PDF

Outputs

  • Redacted PDF

How to use the Redact PDF

  1. Open the PDF. It stays on your device and is not uploaded.
  2. Search for a word or phrase, tick a preset such as email addresses or card numbers, or draw boxes over areas by hand.
  3. Check every black box on every page, and remove any you do not want.
  4. Apply the redactions and download the new PDF. Open it and try to copy text from a redacted area to confirm it has gone.

Frequently asked questions

Is the redacted text really removed?

Yes. Each page with a redaction is turned into a 200 DPI image with the black boxes burned in, so the text, images and annotations underneath are destroyed. Drawing a black shape in an ordinary PDF editor only covers the text, which can still be copied out from underneath.

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No. The file is opened and redacted in your browser, so it never leaves your device.

Can it find personal data for me?

Yes. As well as searching for any word or phrase, you can tick presets for email addresses, phone numbers, UK National Insurance numbers, US Social Security numbers, card numbers and IBANs. Card numbers and IBANs are checked with their built-in check digits to cut false matches. Always review the results, as unusual formats can be missed.

What happens to the rest of the document?

Pages without redactions are copied across unchanged and keep their selectable text. The new file does not include the original's document properties, such as title and author, or its bookmarks and attached files.

Why can I no longer select text on redacted pages?

Flattening a page into an image is what guarantees the hidden text is gone. If you need the rest of that page to be searchable, run PDF OCR on the redacted file; the blacked-out areas stay black.

Can I undo a redaction?

You can undo and remove boxes before you apply them. Once the redacted file is saved the content is gone for good, so keep your original PDF somewhere safe.

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