Redact a PDF
Black out sensitive details so they're really gone.
Your file stays in this browser.
You don't have to take this on faith:
- Open your browser's developer tools (F12, or right-click → Inspect) and click the Network tab.
- Select a file and use this tool as normal.
- Watch the Network tab — no request fires when you select, process, or download. If your file were being sent anywhere, it would show up there.
About Redact a PDF
A black box drawn over text usually hides nothing: the words are still in the file, and anyone can select or copy them. Real redaction removes them. Open your PDF, drag boxes over what must go, and save: every page with a redaction is turned into an image with the boxes burned in, so the text underneath genuinely no longer exists. Pages without redactions are left exactly as they were. Because your document never leaves your device, the sensitive details are never sent anywhere either.
Common uses
- Removing ID numbers or account details before sharing a document.
- Blacking out client names in a report or case file.
- Hiding salaries or prices in a copy for a wider audience.
Common questions
What's the difference between redacting and covering?
Covering (whiteout) draws a box over the text, but the words are still in the file underneath. Redacting turns the page into an image with the box burned in, so the words are gone.
Does redaction change the rest of the page?
On redacted pages, yes: the whole page becomes an image, so its text can no longer be selected or searched, and fine detail is slightly softer. Pages without a redaction aren't touched.
Can a redaction be undone after saving?
No — that's the point. Keep your original file if you might need the hidden details again.
Worth reading: Covering Up Text in a PDF Isn't the Same as Removing It