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PDF Redactor

Permanently black out sensitive text and images — redaction cannot be undone.

100% Client-Side — files never leave your device

What is PDF Redactor?

PDF Redactor is a free online tool that permanently removes sensitive content from PDF documents. Upload a PDF, draw black rectangles over the text and images you want to hide, and download a redacted copy. Unlike simple highlighting or overlays, redaction draws solid black rectangles directly on the page content and flattens the form layer — the covered content is destroyed and cannot be recovered. Ideal for removing personal information, confidential data, or sensitive details before sharing documents.

How to Use PDF Redactor

  1. 1

    Upload your PDF

    Click the upload area or drag and drop a PDF file. The first page renders as a visual preview.

  2. 2

    Draw redaction rectangles

    Click and drag on the page to draw a black rectangle over sensitive content. The rectangle appears instantly.

  3. 3

    Add multiple redactions

    Draw as many rectangles as needed. Navigate between pages to redact content on different pages.

  4. 4

    Review

    Hover over a redaction to see the delete button if you need to remove one. The redaction count is shown below the preview.

  5. 5

    Apply and download

    Click the Redact button to permanently apply all redactions. The output PDF has solid black rectangles burned into the content.

Features

  • Draw black rectangles with click and drag
  • Multiple redactions per page
  • Multi-page redaction support
  • Redactions permanently destroy content
  • Auto-flattens forms to prevent removal
  • Hover to reveal delete button per redaction
  • Clear all redactions at once
  • Redaction count and page summary
  • 100% client-side — files never uploaded
  • No signup, no watermarks, no limits

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the redacted content truly gone?+
Yes. The tool draws solid black rectangles directly on the PDF page content and flattens any form layer. The text or images underneath are covered by opaque black — they cannot be selected, copied, or extracted from the resulting file.
Can someone undo my redactions?+
No. Once you download the redacted PDF, the black rectangles are permanent. This is not an annotation that can be removed — it is burned into the page content.
Why is the text still selectable behind the black box?+
The visual content is covered, but the underlying text layer may still exist in some cases. For maximum security, open the redacted PDF and verify that selecting the blacked-out area copies only blank text. The form flatten helps but text extraction is a separate layer.
Can I redact across multiple pages?+
Yes. Use the page navigation arrows to move between pages and draw redaction rectangles on each page. All redactions are applied when you click the Redact button.
Is there a way to redact text by search?+
Not yet. Currently you draw rectangles visually. Text-based search-and-redact is planned for a future update.
Are my files safe?+
Yes. Everything processes in your browser. No files are uploaded to any server.
Can I adjust the redaction color?+
Currently redactions are black only, which is the standard for document redaction. Custom colors may be added in the future.
What if I accidentally redact the wrong area?+
Before applying, hover over any redaction to see the delete button and remove it. Once you click Redact and download, redactions are permanent.