Redact PDF
Cover the parts of a PDF that must not be seen — names, ID or account numbers, addresses, signatures — and have the text under them removed from the file, not just hidden. Search for a word or draw boxes by hand. The document never leaves your device.
Runs in your browser
How to use
- Drop the PDF.
- Type a word and click Find and mark, or drag over what you want to hide on each page.
- Check every page: boxes can be removed with ×.
- Click Redact and save, then open the result and check it before sharing.
How it works
A black rectangle drawn over text in a PDF hides it on screen but leaves it in the file: anyone can select, copy or search it. That is why redactions done with a drawing tool or a highlighter so often leak.
This tool takes the other route. Each page that has a box is drawn to an image at 150 dpi with the black boxes burned in, and the page is replaced by that image. The text under a box is no longer in the file, because the page no longer contains text at all. Pages without a box are copied unchanged, and the new file does not carry over the original's document properties such as author and title.
The search finds text inside a single line of the page, ignoring upper and lower case. It cannot read scanned pages, which contain only a picture: draw boxes on those by hand. Marked boxes are only suggestions, so look at every page before saving.
Files are processed in your browser with the open-source pdf-lib and pdf.js libraries — they are never uploaded.
Examples
- Contract to share
- Search the client's name and the IBAN, check the boxes on each page, then send the redacted copy.
- Scanned ID or letter
- Draw boxes over the number and the address on the scan, then save.
Common uses
- Hiding personal data before sharing a document
- Preparing documents for legal or HR review
- Removing names and numbers from a contract or invoice
- Hiding account numbers on a statement
Privacy & security
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files and text are never uploaded to our servers — processing happens on your device and results are created locally. How each tool handles files
Frequently asked questions
Is the hidden text really removed?
Yes, on the pages where you drew a box. Those pages are saved as images, so the text under the boxes is no longer in the file. Open the result and try to select text under a box to confirm.
Why can't I select text on redacted pages?
Because they are images now. That is what makes the redaction real. Pages without boxes keep their selectable text.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The pages are drawn and rebuilt in your browser; nothing is sent or stored.
Will the file get bigger?
It can: redacted pages are stored as images at 150 dpi. If the result is large, compress it with Compress PDF.
Does the search find every occurrence?
It finds text that sits in one line of the page. A name split over two lines, or text in a scanned page, is not found, so check each page and add boxes by hand where needed.
Can I undo a redaction after saving?
No. Keep your original file: the saved copy has the text removed on purpose.
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