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Redact PDF

Redact PDF permanently blacks out sensitive text in a PDF — names, Social Security numbers, account numbers, addresses — so the document can be shared without exposing private information. Redaction here is real: the underlying text is removed, not just covered.

When to use it

Sharing legal documents with names removed, publishing records with personal data stripped, sending financial statements without account numbers, or responding to records requests. Anytime a document needs to be public (or semi-public) but contains private details.

How to use it

1. Open Redact PDF and upload the PDF.
2. Select the text to redact — search for terms (like a name or SSN) or mark regions manually.
3. Review every page. Redaction is permanent; missed text stays visible forever.
4. Download the redacted PDF. One file = one document of quota.

What the output looks like

The same PDF with redacted text replaced by solid black bars. The text underneath is actually removed from the file — it can't be recovered by copying, selecting, or editing the PDF.

Good to know

• Redaction is permanent and irreversible. Always keep an unredacted original somewhere safe before you start.
• Search the document for every variation: "Robert Smith," "R. Smith," "Smith" — redacting one form but missing another is the classic mistake.
• Check headers, footers, and metadata. Names hide in document properties too — pair this with Strip Metadata for thorough sanitizing.
• Scanned PDFs need Searchable PDF first so the text layer exists to redact. Redacting a pure image requires covering regions visually.
• Never "redact" by drawing black boxes in a PDF editor or image tool — the text underneath survives and can be extracted. Use real redaction.

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