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Redact PDF

Black out names, numbers and other sensitive details so they're gone for good.

Runs in your browser. Your file is never uploaded.

Redact PDF in short

Add a PDF, then search for text to mark every match, and drag boxes over anything else, then download the redacted copy. It's free, there's no sign-up, and it runs in your browser, so the file never leaves your device.

How to use Redact PDF

  1. 1Add a PDF.
  2. 2Search for text to mark every match, and drag boxes over anything else.
  3. 3Download the redacted copy.

Good to know

  • Redaction here removes content, not just covers it: each page with a box is rebuilt as an image with the boxed areas painted black, so the hidden text can't be selected, copied or recovered.
  • Text on redacted pages can no longer be selected or searched. Pages without boxes are kept exactly as they were.
  • The redacted file is a new document. Bookmarks, attachments, form fields and document properties such as author and title are not carried over.
  • Search only finds real text. On scanned pages, drag boxes by hand.
  • Check every page before you share the file. Search matches what you type, so a name written differently elsewhere won't be found.
  • This tool runs in your browser. Very large files depend on your device's memory.

Redact PDF: common questions

Is Redact PDF free?
Yes. Redact PDF is free and works without an account, for files up to 25 MB and 150 pages. A free account raises that to 50 MB and 400 pages.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Redact PDF runs in your web browser, so the file is read on your own device and never sent to ConvertFile.
Can someone recover text I redacted?
No. Pages you mark are rebuilt as images with the boxed areas painted black, and the original page content isn't copied into the new file. That's the difference from drawing a black box on top, which leaves the text underneath.
Why can't I select text on some pages after redacting?
Pages with a redaction become images, so their text is no longer selectable or searchable. Pages you didn't mark keep their text.
Does Redact PDF work on Mac, Windows, Android and iPhone?
Yes. It runs in any modern web browser, with nothing to install. Very large files work best on a desktop or laptop, because in-browser tools use your device's memory.

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