TonySkill

Redact a PDF

Hide names, numbers and addresses in a PDF by actually deleting the text from the file, not by placing a black rectangle on it. Word search or hand-drawn areas, checked at the end, processed on your device.

Accepted: PDF · Max 190.7 MB per file

Processed on your device: the PDF is not sent anywhere. PDFium engine (≈ 5 MB) downloaded once.

How to redact a PDF

  1. Drop your PDF: its pages appear one under the other.

  2. Type a word to hide (all its occurrences are added) and/or draw rectangles over the passages to hide.

  3. Click “Redact and check”: the text is removed from the file and checked, then click “Download”.

Why redact here

Real redaction
The text is deleted from the file. A black rectangle placed on top leaves the text copyable: here, it is gone.
Word search
Type a name or a number: all its occurrences are found at once. Otherwise, draw a rectangle by hand.
Checked afterwards
Every redacted word is searched for in the output file. You see the result, not a promise.
Nothing is sent
The PDF stays on your device. Only the engine (≈ 5 MB) is downloaded, once.

Something wrong with this tool?

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between hiding and redacting?

Hiding means placing a black rectangle over the text: the text stays in the file, and can be selected, copied or found with a search. Several well-known leaks came from this. Redacting means deleting the text from the file: that is what happens here, and each searched word is then checked in the output file.

Are images under an area erased too?

Yes. The pixels of images passing under an area are erased, not just covered. A photo or signature under the rectangle cannot be recovered.

What about links, such as a clickable email address?

Links that cross an area are removed. This matters: a “mailto:” link or a clickable website would reveal what the rectangle hides. The number of links removed is shown at the end.

My PDF is a scan: search finds nothing, what now?

A scanned PDF is only an image: it contains no text to search. Draw the areas by hand with a rectangle (on a phone, tap “Draw an area” first). The pixels under the rectangle are erased. Word verification is not possible then: check the result by eye.

Is my PDF sent anywhere?

No. Everything happens in your browser: the PDF is not sent anywhere. Only the PDFium engine (≈ 5 MB) is downloaded, once. A password-protected PDF must be unlocked first.

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