Redact a PDF So the Text Is Really Gone
Search for words or drag boxes over areas, then remove that content from the file rather than just covering it.
Free, with no sign-up and no watermark. The file is processed in your browser and never uploaded.
Black out names, numbers or whole areas so they are truly removed from the file — not just hidden under a box. Search for words and phrases, or drag boxes over anything on the page, review, then apply.
Pages that contain a redaction are rebuilt: the page is rendered as an image with the boxes painted on, so the hidden content is gone from the file for good, and every piece of text outside the boxes is added back as an invisible layer — the page stays searchable and selectable. Pages without redactions are copied unchanged.
Step by step
- Upload the PDF: Pages appear with any existing text you can search.
- Find text: Type into Find text to redact and click Find & mark. Use Match case and Whole words to narrow it down.
- Draw boxes: Drag on a page to cover anything else — signatures, photos, stamps. Click a box to remove it, or Clear all.
- Choose options: Pick Box colour (Black or White) and Redacted page quality (Standard 144 dpi or High 216 dpi). By default metadata, comments, links and form fields are removed too.
- Apply: Click Apply Redactions. The file downloads with "-redacted" in its name.
Handy for
Legal disclosure
Remove privileged or personal details before producing documents.
Sharing statements
Hide account numbers on a bank statement used as proof of address.
HR and recruitment
Anonymise CVs before a panel reviews them.
Public records
Remove signatures and contact details before publishing.
Good to know
Search works within a single page, and only on PDFs with a text layer. On scans, draw boxes, or run Searchable PDF first.
Check the result with Redaction Leak Test before sending it.
Links and annotations on redacted pages are removed along with the page content.
Questions
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read and processed by JavaScript running in your browser tab. Nothing is sent to a server, and the result is created on your device.
How is this different from drawing a black box?
A drawn box leaves the text underneath in the file, where it can be copied out. Here the redacted page is rebuilt without the hidden content.
Does the rest of the page stay searchable?
Yes. Text outside the boxes is re-added as an invisible layer, so you can still search and select it.
Do pages without redactions change?
No. They are copied exactly.
Further reading
- How to Redact a PDF Properly, Not Just With Black Boxes — Black boxes leave text in a PDF. True redaction rebuilds the page so the content is gone; find personal data automatically and test the file before sending.
More Edit, Sign & Stamp tools
- Flatten Forms & Annotations — Turn form fields and annotations into fixed page content so filled answers and markup can no longer be changed.
- Change PDF Title, Author & Keywords — View and change a PDF's title, author, subject, keywords, creator and producer fields.
- Bates Stamp PDF Pages — Stamp a prefix and zero-padded running number such as ABC000001 on every page, with a preview first.
- Thumb Impression Maker — Turn a photo of an inked thumb impression into a clean transparent PNG, and optionally stamp it onto a PDF.
- Night-Mode, Greyscale & Sepia PDF — Apply invert, dark mode, greyscale or sepia as a blend layer over each page, keeping text sharp and selectable.
- Typed Text to Handwriting — Paste text and get a PDF in a neat or cursive hand on ruled, plain or grid paper, with your choice of ink colour.