Redact a PDF online, permanently
Permanently redact names, numbers and confidential text from a PDF. Redactions are burned in, metadata is removed, and nothing is uploaded.
Drop files here
or paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V
PNG, JPG, WebP PDF up to 50 pagesMax 25 MB eachUp to 20 files at once
Processed on your device. Your file is never uploaded.Prove it
How to redact a PDF
- Drop the PDF above.
- Accept the suggested redactions (personal data, account and ID numbers, keys), or use Find and redact to cover every match of a word or pattern.
- Draw boxes over anything else that must go.
- Click Export. The output is read again before download, and anything still legible is flagged.
Why a black box isn't always a redaction
Drawing a black rectangle in a PDF editor often leaves the text underneath intact: it can be selected, copied or extracted from the file. True redaction removes the content itself.
Blur Document rebuilds every page as an image with the redactions burned in, then assembles a fresh PDF. Text under a box no longer exists in the file, and neither do the original metadata, annotations, form fields or hidden layers.
Find and redact every occurrence
Type a name, a case number or a regular expression into Find and redact, and every match on every page is covered at once.
- Names and email addresses
- Phone, card, bank account and IBAN numbers
- PAN, Aadhaar and SSN numbers
- API keys, tokens and passwords
Private by design
Your file is opened, read and exported inside your browser tab. It is never uploaded, so nobody (including us) can see it.
Questions
Is the redaction permanent?
Yes. The exported PDF is rebuilt from pixels, so redacted text is not hidden, it is gone. The original metadata is removed too.
Can I still search the redacted PDF?
No. Because pages are rebuilt as images, the text in the output is not selectable or searchable.
Do I need Adobe Acrobat?
No. Everything happens in your browser, for free, without an account.
Learn more
- How to blur or black out text in a PDF (so it's really gone)
- Free alternatives to Adobe Acrobat's redact tool
- How to redact a PDF on iPhone (in Safari, no app)
- How to redact a PDF on Android (in Chrome, no app)
- How to redact a PDF on a Mac (and why drawing a box isn't enough)
- How to redact a PDF on Windows without paid software
- How to remove metadata from a PDF
- How to redact a scanned PDF or a photo of a document
- How to redact every occurrence of a name in a PDF
- How to redact court documents: a practical checklist
- How to check if a PDF is properly redacted
- How to redact multiple PDFs at once
- How to hide your account number in a bank statement
- Bank statement for a visa: what to hide and what to keep
- Passport copy: what to hide before you send it
- How to redact a Social Security number on any document
- How to redact a W-2 for a mortgage application
- How to share a copy of your driver's license safely
- Bank statements for an apartment application: what to hide
- How to anonymize resumes for blind hiring
- How to redact medical records before sharing them
- How to redact an invoice before sharing it
- Is it safe to use online PDF tools?
- What is redaction? A practical explanation
- How to redact a Word document
- What to hide before sharing documents online: a checklist
Related tools
- Black out text in PDFCover lines or words with solid black boxes
- Blur PDFBlur text, numbers and images in any PDF
- Remove personal info from PDFFind and remove names, numbers and contact details
- InvoiceHides: Customer name, Address, Email, Phone number, Tax IDs (GSTIN, VAT, EIN), Bank details, Card numbers
- Medical reportHides: Patient name, Patient ID / MRN / UHID, Date of birth, Phone number, Email, Address, Insurance / policy number