How to redact a PDF
- Tap "Add a PDF" or drop it onto the box.
- Type a name or number and tap Find, use a quick find for email addresses, phone numbers or long numbers, or drag boxes over the pages. Check every match: keep it or remove it.
- Choose the picture quality, tap the black-out button, then download the result and check it.
Good to know
Many PDF tools only draw a black rectangle over the text. The words are still in the file underneath, and anyone can copy them out with a free program. This tool turns each page you black out into a picture with the black boxes burned in, so the hidden words are gone from the file, not just covered.
The trade-off: text on a blacked-out page can no longer be selected, searched or read aloud by a screen reader, and the page is a little less sharp than before. Choose 300 dpi (dots per inch) for print quality. Pages without black boxes are kept exactly as they were.
The tool also removes hidden extras that often hold names: the document details (title, author and similar), XMP metadata, attachments, scripts, and any form fields and comments on the blacked-out pages. After saving, it lists exactly what it removed. Search finds typed text only: words inside photos or scans can’t be found, so draw boxes over those. Always check the result before you share it.
Questions
Is the blacked-out text really gone?
Yes. Each page you black out is replaced by a picture with the boxes burned in, and the old text, fonts and drawings of that page are removed from the file. You can check: open the result and try to select or search for the hidden words.
Why can’t I select the text on redacted pages any more?
Because those pages are now pictures. That is what makes the redaction safe. Pages without black boxes keep their selectable text.
Can it find names and numbers in a scanned PDF?
No. A scan is a picture of paper, so there is no text to search. Draw boxes over what you want to hide instead.
Which numbers do the quick finds catch?
Phone numbers of 7 to 15 digits written with spaces, dashes, dots, brackets or a + sign, and long numbers of 8 or more digits, such as account, card and ID numbers, and IBANs. Dates and money amounts are left out on purpose. Every match is shown for you to check, so look through the pages and add anything that was missed.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser on your device, which matters most for exactly the kind of documents people redact.
Page last reviewed 21 October 2026.