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Redact PDF
Permanently remove sensitive text and images. Mark the areas, then download a PDF where they are gone for good.
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About this pdf security tool
Redact PDF — permanently remove sensitive content
Black out names, account numbers, addresses and other sensitive details so they cannot be recovered. The text and images under each box are removed from the file, not just covered with a black rectangle.
Draw boxes over the areas to remove, or search for a word, an email address, a phone number or a card-like number and redact every match at once. Redacted pages are rebuilt as pictures with the marked areas painted black, and the document's metadata, bookmarks, attachments and annotations are removed. Everything runs in your browser unless you turn on the optional OCR step, which sends only the already-redacted file to our server.
How it works
Finish your document in three steps
Mark what to remove
Drag boxes over areas, or search for text and redact all matches.
Redact and download
Apply the redactions and save the new PDF.
Get the best result
Tips for better results
- Search for a name or number first, then check every page for variations the search missed.
- Redact before you protect or share: a black box drawn in an editor can be removed, a redaction made here cannot.
- Text inside a scanned picture cannot be searched, so draw boxes over it by hand.
- Keep the original file somewhere safe; the redacted copy cannot be undone.
Your files stay on your device
Processing happens locally in your browser. Your documents are not uploaded to PDF Utility for this tool, giving you more control over sensitive files.
Frequently asked questions
Redact PDF — permanently remove sensitive content FAQ
Quick answers about formats, processing and what to expect from this tool.
How do I redact a PDF?
Upload the PDF, drag boxes over the areas you want to remove or search for text and choose Redact all matches, then select Redact PDF and download the result.
Is the hidden text really removed?
Yes. Each page with a marked area is rebuilt as a picture with those areas painted black, so the text and images underneath are not in the file. They cannot be selected, copied or recovered, unlike a black rectangle drawn over live text.
Why can't I select text on redacted pages?
Redacted pages become pictures, which is what makes the removal permanent. Pages you did not mark keep their selectable text. Turn on Keep the text on redacted pages searchable to add a text layer with OCR, or run OCR PDF on the result later. That option sends the already-redacted file (never the original or your password) to our server, which deletes it after processing.
Can I redact every email address or phone number at once?
Yes. Use the email, phone number and card number searches to find them, review the outlined matches and choose Redact all matches. These searches are a starting point and can miss unusual formats, so check each page before you download.
Does it find text inside scanned pages?
No. Search reads the real text in the PDF, so words inside a scanned picture are not found. Draw a box over them instead.
Is the document's metadata removed too?
Yes. The title, author, XMP metadata, bookmarks, attachments and annotations are not carried over, and form fields are flattened so their values cannot hide the data.
Can I undo a redaction after downloading?
No, and that is the point. Keep your original file if you may need the full version later.
Can I redact a password-protected PDF?
Yes. Enter the password to open it. The redacted copy is locked again with the same password.
Are my PDF and password uploaded?
No. Redaction runs in your browser, and the selected file and any password are not uploaded to PDF Utility.
Is Redact PDF free?
Yes. Redact PDF is free to use with no account or sign-up, and PDF Utility does not add its own watermark to your file.
Learn more
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