Drop PDF here or click to upload
Page 1 of 1
Click and drag to draw redaction boxes. Click a box to remove it.
Processing...
Files processed locally — never uploaded
How it works
Run this tool in three short steps.
01
Upload PDF
Drop a PDF or click to browse.
02
Draw redaction boxes
Click and drag on the preview to mark areas to redact.
03
Download redacted PDF
Apply redaction and download. Underlying text is permanently removed.
Questions
What people ask before they use this tool.
How does PDF redaction work?
The tool renders each PDF page as an image, lets you draw black rectangles over sensitive areas, then flattens the result into a new PDF. The underlying text is removed — not just covered.
Is the redaction permanent?
Yes. Once applied, the redacted content cannot be recovered. The text under black rectangles is removed from the PDF structure.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. All processing happens in your browser using pdf.js and pdf-lib.js.
Can I redact specific text automatically?
Currently you draw redaction boxes manually. Automatic text-based redaction is planned for a future update.
Can I redact multiple pages?
Yes. Navigate between pages and draw redaction boxes on each.
Does it preserve the rest of the PDF?
Yes. Only the areas you mark are redacted. All other content remains intact.
What file formats are supported?
PDF files only. The output is also PDF.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. Touch to draw redaction rectangles on the page preview.
Is there a page limit?
No hard limit. Large PDFs may take longer to render.
Can I undo a redaction before saving?
Yes. Click on a redaction box to remove it before applying. Once downloaded, redaction is permanent.
How does this compare to Adobe Acrobat redaction?
Adobe offers text-search redaction and broader audit features. This tool is more focused on drawing redaction boxes in a browser workflow for direct manual cleanup.
Is this useful for GDPR-related workflows?
The tool can help you remove personal data from PDFs before sharing them. Redaction happens in your browser, and files are not uploaded to our servers during processing. Review your own legal or compliance requirements before relying on any workflow.
What color are redaction marks?
Black. This is the standard for legal and compliance redaction.
Is it free?
Yes. It is free to use in your browser for manual PDF redaction.
Can I pay with crypto?
PDF tools are free. See all <a href="/pdf-tools">PDF Tools</a>. AI writing tools accept crypto from $9.99/month.
Related
Continue the workflow
Do more with your documents
Summarize, rewrite, or translate the text in your PDFs with AI.
Permanently redact sensitive content from PDF files. Draw redaction boxes over text, images, or data, then export a new PDF with the redacted areas flattened into the file. Processing happens in your browser.