Redact PDF Online: Permanently Remove Sensitive Text
Draw boxes or search for SSNs, emails, phone and card numbers, then rebuild the PDF so the text underneath is gone.
Redact PDF: permanent blackout
Mark areas by hand or search for SSNs, emails, phone numbers, card numbers and your own keywords. The output is rebuilt from page images with the marked areas painted black, so the hidden text is not in the new file.
Text-based PDFs can be searched. Scanned pages can be redacted by drawing boxes.
Redaction happens inside this browser tab. Your document is never uploaded.
What this tool does and who it is for
Redact PDF permanently removes what you mark. You draw boxes on page previews or search for Social Security numbers, email addresses, US phone numbers, 16-digit card numbers and your own words. When you apply, every page becomes an image, the marked areas are painted solid black, and a new PDF is built.
Because the new file is made only from those images, the hidden text is not in it, and neither is the rest of the original text layer, fonts, form fields, links or metadata. After building it, the tool reopens the result and checks that none of your search terms can be found. Pages are images, so the file is no longer text-searchable.
Search only finds text that the PDF really contains. Scanned pages have no text layer, so mark them by hand. Your document is processed in this browser tab and is not uploaded.
Official Formula / Technical Standard
Real-World Worked Scenario
Redacting Social Security numbers from a tax form ensures identity theft protection before public filing.
When people use it
Court filings
Black out Social Security numbers, account numbers and birth dates before filing, then check every page of the output.
Sharing statements
Hide card and account numbers on a bank or credit card statement before sending it to a landlord or lender.
Records requests and HR files
Remove names, emails and phone numbers from documents you release, using the keyword list for names.
Scanned paperwork
Draw boxes over details on scanned pages, where automatic search cannot see any text.
Notes for US users
- Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 limits filings to the last four digits of a Social Security or financial account number, the year of birth and a minor's initials. Check your court's local rules too.
- HIPAA covers patient identifiers in medical records. Review every page of the redacted output, since automatic search can miss handwriting, images and unusual formats.
- For FOIA and public records releases, keep the original unredacted file separately and log what you removed and why.
Limits and what to double-check
- •Automatic search works only on a real text layer. Scanned pages, text inside images, and unusual number formats need boxes drawn by hand.
- •Box positions for matches are estimated from the text's font metrics. Most fit well, but zoom in and check each box before applying, and accept or reject each proposed match.
- •The output is image-only: it is not searchable or selectable, file size usually grows, and links, bookmarks and fillable fields are gone. The self-check reads the text layer, not pixels, so look over every page yourself.
Expert Best Practices & Common Pitfalls
Recommended Best Practices
- •Always test your redacted document by searching for the redacted term to verify it cannot be found.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Using translucent digital highlighters that can be selected and copied.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Upload PDF
Select the document containing confidential data.
Specify Redaction
Enter terms or indicate sensitive coordinates to redact.
Apply Redaction
Click 'Apply Permanent Blackout Redaction'.
Download File
Save your fully sanitized PDF.
Features & Security Architecture
- Permanent Redaction: Destroys underlying text data rather than simply drawing translucent highlights
- Opaque Blackout Blocks: Solid black rectangles completely obscure confidential text
- 100% Client-Side Privacy: Confidential legal briefs and medical files are redacted locally
- Immediate Download: Save your sanitized document with zero software installation
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone uncover redacted text?▼
No. Our permanent blackout tool destroys the text layer so it cannot be selected, copied, or searched.
Can someone uncover the redacted text?▼
Not from this output. The new PDF contains only page images with the marked areas painted black, so there is no hidden text layer under the bars to copy or extract. The tool reopens the file after building it and confirms that none of your searched terms appear. Always review the result before you share it.
Why is my redacted PDF no longer searchable?▼
Every page is rebuilt as an image, which is what guarantees the removed text is gone. The trade-off is that no text can be selected or searched. If you need a searchable copy, run OCR on the redacted file afterward, and check that the OCR text does not reveal anything.
Why didn't it find anything on my scanned PDF?▼
A scan is a picture of a page and has no text layer for the tool to search. Turn on drawing and drag boxes over each item by hand. The tool lists which pages have no text layer after a search.
Is metadata removed?▼
Yes. The output is a brand-new file, so the original title, author, keywords, comments, attachments and other hidden data are not copied. Only the page images are kept. It is still worth opening the document properties of the output to confirm before sharing.
Is this good enough for a court filing?▼
It removes text for real, which is what courts expect, but you are responsible for what you file. Check every page, make sure each SSN, account number and minor's name is covered, and follow your court's rules. Many offices have a second person review redactions.