Redact PDF Online Free — Hide Sensitive Text
Cover names, numbers and private details in your PDF with solid black boxes, then export a new file. Free, private, and everything happens in your browser.
Drag & drop your PDF here
or click to browse — files stay on your device
Files never leave your deviceHow to Redact a PDF in 3 Steps
- Drop a PDF into the box above — its pages appear below.
- Press and drag over any names, numbers or details you want hidden; add as many black boxes as you need on any page.
- Click Export redacted PDF — your new file downloads with the boxes baked into the pages.
About this free PDF redaction tool
PDFPax's redaction tool lets you black out sensitive parts of a PDF before you share it — account numbers, names, addresses, signatures. Drop in your document, drag black rectangles over anything private on any page, and export a new PDF with the boxes permanently drawn into the pages. Rendering, redacting and rebuilding all happen in your browser, so the document never leaves your device. One honest limit worth knowing: the boxes cover content visually, which is plenty for everyday sharing, screenshots and printing — but the underlying text data can sometimes still be recovered by determined users with PDF tools. Treat this as a practical privacy aid for casual use, not as certified sanitisation; for legal, medical or compliance-grade redaction, use dedicated desktop software. It's free, with no account and no watermarks.
What Is PDF Redaction?
Redaction means permanently covering the sensitive parts of a document before you share it — very different from highlighting, which draws attention to text instead of hiding it. Common uses include contracts sent to the other party, ID scans uploaded to a portal, and bank-statement screenshots posted as proof of payment. One honest note: this tool draws solid black boxes over content visually — plenty for everyday sharing, screenshots and printing; determined users with PDF tools can sometimes recover text under boxes, so for legal, medical or compliance-grade work use certified desktop software.
Black Out Text in a PDF Before Sharing
Sharing a document shouldn't mean sharing everything in it. Account numbers, names, home addresses and signatures are exactly the details identity thieves look for, and they often sit right next to the information you actually want to share. Just drag black boxes over anything private on any page — one box or twenty, it's up to you. When you export, a brand-new PDF is created with the boxes drawn directly into the pages, so recipients see clean black bars and nothing else.
Redact a PDF Without Adobe Acrobat
You don't need an Adobe subscription or any installed software to redact a PDF. Acrobat's redaction tools are powerful, but they carry a monthly price and a learning curve most people don't need for everyday privacy. This tool runs entirely in your browser: open the page, drop in your PDF, draw your black boxes and export. Because everything happens locally on your device, your documents never leave your computer — not even for a second.
Can I Redact a Scanned PDF?
Yes. Scanned documents are simply images of pages saved as a PDF, and this tool renders every page — scanned or not — so you can draw black boxes over anything you see. That makes it ideal for photographed contracts, scanned ID cards, receipts and other image-based PDFs where selecting text isn't possible. Open the file, drag boxes over the sensitive areas on each page, and export your new PDF with everything covered.
Redact a PDF on iPhone and Android
This redaction tool works in any modern mobile browser — no app to install and nothing to download from an app store. Open the page on your iPhone or Android phone, upload your PDF, draw boxes over the private details and export, all from your phone. One practical tip: drawing precise boxes around small text is easier on a desktop with a mouse, so for fiddly documents you may prefer a bigger screen.
What next? After redacting, password-protect the file so only people you trust can open it. Need to remove whole pages instead of blacking out parts? Delete pages from your PDF. Shrink the file before sharing it — Compress PDF first, then redact. If you need to change text rather than hide it, try Edit PDF. For non-sensitive drafts, a Watermark PDF stamp is enough — no need to redact.
Frequently asked questions
Is this redaction secure enough for legal documents?
This tool covers content with solid black boxes, which is fine for casual sharing, screenshots and prints. Determined users with PDF tools can sometimes recover text hidden under boxes, so for legal, medical or other high-stakes documents use a certified desktop redaction tool instead.
Can I redact multiple areas on multiple pages?
Yes. Drag as many black boxes as you like on any page. Use the Clear button if you want to start over.
Is my document uploaded to a server?
No. Rendering, redacting and rebuilding the PDF all happen in your browser tab. Your document never leaves your device.
Is it really free to redact a PDF online?
Yes. There's no signup, no watermark and no limit on how many documents you redact — everything happens in your browser, so there's nothing to meter.
Can I black out text in a PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
Yes. You get the same practical result — solid black boxes over anything private — right in your browser, with no Adobe subscription and nothing to install.
Can I undo a redaction box?
There's no per-box undo yet — click "Clear all redactions" to remove every box and start over. The original file on your device is never modified until you export.
Does it work on scanned PDFs?
Yes. The tool renders each page and lets you draw boxes over anything shown — including scanned or image-based pages.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes, it runs in any modern mobile browser. Drawing precise boxes around small text is easier on a desktop, but phones and tablets work fine.