PDF Redaction — what it does
Permanently blacks out text you draw over — the account numbers in a bank statement, the names in a court filing, the ID numbers on a school form. The content under the boxes is removed from the exported file rather than hidden behind a coloured rectangle you could delete.
How to use PDF Redaction
- Open the PDF and find the first page that needs redacting.
- Draw a box over the text, number or photo you want suppressed. Boxes can be resized so they cover the whole value.
- Repeat on each page. The list of boxes shows everything you have marked before you commit.
- Export. The redacted PDF is written with the covered content replaced, and the original stays as your unredacted copy.
Worked example: sharing a statement with a landlord
A renter needs to show bank statements proving income but not every transaction. Redacting the balance column, the account number and unrelated transfers leaves the salary credits readable. The exported file is safe to send — which it would not be if the boxes were merely drawn on top of a live text layer.
At a glance
| What it removes | Text and images under the boxes you draw |
|---|---|
| Output | A new PDF with the covered content gone from the file |
| Where it runs | Your browser, on-device — the document is never uploaded |
| Not the same as cropping | Cropping hides outside a box; redaction removes the content |
| Check before sending | Open the exported file and try to select text where you redacted — after redaction there should be nothing to select |
Frequently asked questions
- What is PDF Redaction?
- Permanently black out sensitive text on any PDF page — draw boxes over the content you want hidden and export the redacted PDF. All on-device.
- Is PDF Redaction free to use?
- Yes — PDF Redaction is free to use, with no sign-up, no install and no account.
- Does PDF Redaction upload or store my data?
- No — PDF Redaction runs entirely in your browser, so your text, files and results never leave your device.
- Do I need to install anything to use PDF Redaction?
- No — it works in any modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) with no downloads, accounts or plugins.
- If I just draw a black box, is that not enough?
- No, and that mistake has leaked real data many times: the text is still in the file and can be copied from underneath the box. This tool removes the content rather than covering it, which is the difference that matters.
- Can it redact automatically?
- Use AI Auto-Redact PDF for pattern-based detection of Aadhaar, PAN, card numbers, SSNs, phone numbers and emails. Manual redaction is still the right choice for names and anything a pattern cannot describe.