Drawing a black box over text in a PDF editor feels like redaction, but the original text is often still there underneath -- selectable, copyable, sometimes visible if the box is moved. Redact PDF actually removes the content, not just hides it.
How to redact a PDF
- Open Redact PDF and upload your document.
- Select the text or areas you want to permanently remove.
- Apply the redaction.
- Download the redacted PDF -- the original content is gone, not just covered.
Redacting thoroughly
- Check metadata too. Sensitive details sometimes live in a document's title, author field, or comments, not just the visible page -- Edit Metadata handles that separately.
- Redact before, not after, other edits so you're not accidentally reintroducing content through undo or copy-paste.
- Double-check the final file by trying to select text where the redaction was applied -- it should select nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Is this different from just drawing a black box over text?
Yes -- a drawn box can leave the underlying text intact and recoverable, while redaction removes the content itself.
Can I redact images as well as text?
Yes -- select any area of the page, text or image, for permanent removal.
Can the redacted content be recovered afterward?
No -- once redacted and downloaded, the removed content is gone from that file.
Is my document uploaded to redact it?
No -- redaction happens entirely in your browser.
A black box isn't redaction unless the content is actually gone -- try Redact PDF to do it properly.