Redact PDF Online — Free
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
- 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.
- Click Export redacted PDF to download the new file with your redactions baked in.
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.
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.