Redact PDF
Permanently black out and remove sensitive content from any PDF โ right in your browser.
Drag & drop a PDF here, or click to choose. Everything runs in your browser โ your file is never uploaded.
Black out what to remove
Drag across the page to draw a black redaction box, drag a box to move it, or click its โ to delete it. Switch pages to redact more โ every box is remembered. On download, the content under each box is permanently removed: pages are flattened to images, so the text beneath is gone and can never be selected or copied. This is true, secure redaction โ not a black rectangle laid over still-readable text.
Redact PDF lets you black out and truly remove confidential text, names, account numbers or signatures from a PDF before you share it. Drag to draw a black box over anything sensitive on any page, then download a cleaned file. Unlike tools that just lay a rectangle over still-selectable text, this one flattens each redacted page to an image, so the content beneath the box is permanently gone and can never be copied or recovered. Everything runs locally in your browser โ your file is never uploaded, making it safe for legal, medical and financial documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this really remove the text under the black box, or just hide it?
It really removes it. Each page you redact is rendered to a canvas, the black boxes are painted onto the pixels, and a brand-new PDF is rebuilt from those flattened images. The original text and content beneath every box is destroyed โ it cannot be selected, copied or recovered, unlike an overlay rectangle that leaves the text underneath.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The entire redaction runs inside your browser using JavaScript โ your file never leaves your device and nothing is sent to any server. That makes it safe for confidential legal, medical and financial documents, with no signup required.
Why is the text no longer selectable after redaction?
Secure redaction requires flattening: the saved PDF's pages become images so there is no hidden text layer left to copy from. This is the trade-off that guarantees the redacted content is truly gone. If you need a selectable-text copy, keep your original and only share the redacted file.
Can I redact multiple pages and multiple areas?
Yes. Switch pages with the page selector and draw as many black boxes as you need on each one โ every box is remembered per page. Drag a box to reposition it, or click its โ to remove it. When you download, redactions are applied across all pages at once.
How is this better than iLovePDF, Sejda or Adobe Acrobat?
Those tools often gate true redaction behind a signup or paid desktop app, and many free 'redaction' tools only draw a box over text that can still be copied underneath. This tool does genuine content removal, works 100% in your browser so sensitive files are never uploaded, and is completely free with no account.
Is redaction here permanent and irreversible?
Yes. Once you download the redacted PDF, the blacked-out content has been rasterized away and cannot be undone in that file. Always keep a copy of your original if you may need the un-redacted version later.