Redact PDF
Cover private details with boxes and download a flattened PDF in which they no longer exist.
Drop your file hereTap to choose a file
or click to browse, or paste from the clipboard
Covered content is removed, not hidden
Every page of the result is rebuilt as an image with your boxes burned into the pixels. The text, images and form values under a box are not in the new file, so they cannot be copied, searched or uncovered by deleting the box.
Your PDF stays on your device
The file is opened, previewed and redacted inside your browser. Nothing is uploaded, which matters when the document holds the bank details, addresses or ID numbers you are trying to protect.
Precise boxes on any page
Drag to draw a box, move it, resize it from its corner or type an exact position and size. Add boxes on as many pages as you need, undo mistakes, and choose black or white boxes and the image quality of the result.
How to redact a PDF permanently
- 1
Choose a PDF. It opens in your browser and is not uploaded.
- 2
Drag a box over each private detail, using the page controls to work through the document.
- 3
Pick the image quality and box colour, then select Redact and build PDF.
- 4
Download the result and check every page before sharing it.
What people use this tool for
- Hide an account number and address on a bank statement before sending it as proof of income.
- Remove ID, passport or tax numbers from a document you have to submit to a landlord or employer.
- Black out prices, names or signatures in a contract or invoice before sharing it as a sample.
- Strip personal details from a medical or school record that you are forwarding to someone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I redact a PDF?
Choose your PDF, then drag over each detail you want to remove. Use the page controls to reach other pages. When every detail is covered, select Redact and build PDF and download the result. Open it and check each page before you send it to anyone.
Is the redacted text really gone?
Yes. Drawing a black rectangle in an ordinary PDF editor leaves the text underneath, where it can be copied or revealed by removing the shape. This tool does not edit the original file. It renders each page to an image, paints the boxes over the pixels and builds a new PDF from those images only, so the covered content is absent from the file you download.
Is my document uploaded?
No. The PDF is read and processed by your browser on your own device, and the redacted file is created there as well. Your browser downloads only the tool's own code; no request carries your document or the boxes you draw.
Why can't I select or search text in the result?
Because every page is now an image. That is what guarantees that no hidden text, comment, form value or document property from the original can survive. If you need a searchable copy, run the redacted file through PDF OCR afterwards. It reads only what is visible, so it cannot bring back anything you covered.
What else is removed besides the boxed areas?
Everything that is not visible on the page. Links, bookmarks, comments, attachments and fillable form fields are not carried over, and neither are document properties such as the title and author. Filled-in form values and visible annotations stay visible as part of the page image, so cover them with a box if they are private.
How is this different from PDF Annotator?
PDF Annotator adds text, highlights and drawings on top of a page and keeps the original content, which is right for review and signing but not for hiding information. Redact PDF exists to remove information. Use it whenever the covered detail must not be recoverable.
What are the limits, and which quality should I pick?
PDFs up to 50 MiB and 100 pages, with up to 500 boxes, and password-protected files are not supported. High (200 DPI) keeps normal text sharp and is the default. Standard (150 DPI) makes a smaller file for email, and Maximum (300 DPI) suits small print and documents that will be printed. Very large pages are rendered at a lower resolution so each page stays within 16 megapixels.
What should I check before sharing the file?
Look at every page of the downloaded PDF, not only the ones you edited: the same name or number often appears in a header, a footer, a signature block or a later page. Make sure each box fully covers its detail, including descenders and the first and last characters. Remember that the file name itself can reveal information.