Redact PDF

Draw black boxes over anything you want to hide, then export a flattened PDF that permanently destroys the text and data underneath — the secure way to redact. All in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Drop a PDF here, or click to browse .pdf · stays on your device

How to Redact a PDF

Three steps, all in your browser.

1

Add your PDF

Drag in the PDF, or click to browse. Every page is rendered so you can see exactly what you are hiding. The file stays on your device — nothing is uploaded.

2

Draw black boxes

Drag on any page to cover a name, address, account number or signature. Add as many boxes as you need across any pages; use Undo box or Clear all to adjust.

3

Redact and download

Click Redact & download. Each page is flattened to an image with the boxes burned in, so the text under them is gone for good. To simply cover marks non-destructively instead, use Annotate PDF.

Security note: this tool flattens each page to an image, which permanently removes the text and data under the boxes — unlike drawing a rectangle that merely sits on top. The trade-off is that the result is no longer selectable text and is usually a larger file. Keep your original if you still need an editable copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the redaction really secure — can the hidden text be recovered?
No. Unlike simply drawing a black rectangle on top of the page (which leaves the text sitting underneath, still selectable and copyable), this tool flattens every page to an image with the black boxes burned in. The original text and data under a box are discarded entirely, so there is nothing left in the file to recover.
What is the catch with flattening?
Because each page becomes a picture, the whole document is no longer text — you cannot select, copy or search it afterwards, and the file is usually larger than the original. That is the trade-off for a genuinely secure redaction. Keep your original if you still need the editable version.
How do I redact a PDF?
Drop in the PDF, then drag on any page to draw a black box over each thing you want to hide — a name, an address, an account number. Add as many boxes as you need across any pages, use Undo or Clear to adjust, then click Redact & download to get the flattened PDF.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No — everything runs in your browser with pdf.js and pdf-lib. Your document is read, rendered and rebuilt on your own device, and nothing is uploaded, logged or stored — which is exactly what you want for sensitive documents. Closing the tab clears everything.
Can I redact more than one page?
Yes — every page of the PDF is shown, and you can draw boxes on as many pages as you like in a single pass. When you export, every page is flattened and the boxes on each are burned in, so a multi-page document is redacted all at once.

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