Redact PDF

About PDF Redaction

Click and drag to draw black boxes over sensitive information in your PDF, right in your browser. Enable 'Permanently remove text (flatten page)' to rasterize each redacted page so the hidden text and PII are destroyed and cannot be copied or extracted - true irreversible redaction for GDPR, HIPAA and legal-discovery workflows. Everything runs locally; your file is never uploaded.

How does redaction work?

Select a page, then click and drag directly on the page preview to draw black boxes over any sensitive text or images. You can draw multiple boxes on any page, then apply the redaction and download the result. No coordinates to type.

Can the redacted text be recovered by copy-paste or text extraction?

It depends on the mode. A black box drawn as an overlay only hides text visually, so the original text stays selectable underneath and can be recovered by copy-paste or text extraction. This is the most common redaction mistake. With 'Permanently remove text (flatten page)' enabled, the affected page is rasterized to an image with the black boxes burned in, so the underlying text and vector data are destroyed and cannot be recovered.

What does flattening the page do?

Flattening converts each redacted page into a flat image before re-embedding it, with the black boxes already painted on. Because the page no longer contains live text or vector objects, there is nothing left to extract beneath the redaction. This is the irreversible redaction that legal, GDPR and HIPAA workflows require, instead of a cosmetic cover.

Is this suitable for GDPR, HIPAA or legal-discovery redaction?

Yes, when you keep the 'Permanently remove text (flatten page)' option enabled. Flattening removes the underlying PII and confidential text so it cannot be recovered, which is what compliance reviews and court filings require. Always preview the result before sharing to confirm every sensitive area is covered.

Can I redact multiple areas?

Yes! You can add multiple redaction areas across different pages. Each area can have different size and position.

What is the file size limit?

The maximum file size is 50MB.

Can I preview before downloading?

Yes! You can preview the redacted PDF before downloading to ensure all sensitive areas are properly covered.

Is my PDF file safe?

Yes! All redaction processing happens in your browser. Your file is never uploaded to any server.

What color are the redaction boxes?

Redaction areas are covered with solid black rectangles to completely hide the information underneath.