Your files never leave your device. All processing happens in your browser.
Open the Img Stop Redact PDF tool and add your PDF. Drag on a page to draw a black box over anything private, or type words (or choose emails, phone numbers or numbers) and click Find and add boxes. Check the boxes, then click Redact and download PDF. Each page with a box is turned into an image with the box burned in, so the hidden text is really deleted, not just covered.
About the Redact PDF
Simply drawing a black rectangle on a PDF does not hide anything: the text is still there underneath and can be copied or found with search. Redact PDF does real redaction. Every page that has a box is redrawn as a picture with the box burned in, so the covered words, numbers and links are gone from the file for good.
Draw boxes with your mouse or finger, move and resize them, or let the tool find text for you – words you type, email addresses, phone numbers or long numbers such as account and ID numbers. Pages without boxes can stay unchanged with their normal text. Everything happens in your browser, so the private document you are cleaning is never uploaded.
Key features
- Real redactionText under the boxes is removed, not just hidden.
- Find and boxSearch words, emails, phone numbers or long numbers on every page.
- Draw by handDrag boxes over anything, including pictures and signatures.
- Move and resizeAdjust or delete any box before you download.
- Black or whiteUse classic black bars or white boxes that blend in.
- Keep other pagesPages without boxes keep their selectable text.
How to use the Redact PDF
- Add your PDF Drop the PDF on the box or click to choose it.
- Mark what to hide Drag boxes over private details, or type words and click Find and add boxes.
- Check the boxes Scroll through the pages, move or resize boxes and delete any you do not need.
- Redact and download Choose the quality and click Redact and download PDF.
Redact PDF at a glance
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Input | |
| Redaction | Permanent – boxed pages are flattened |
| Find | Words, emails, phone numbers, numbers |
| Quality | 150, 200 or 300 DPI |
| Privacy | Redacted in your browser – no upload |
When to use it
- Hide account numbers and balances on a bank statement before sharing it.
- Remove names and addresses from documents for a court case or complaint.
- Black out ID numbers on a copy of a passport or ID card.
- Share a contract or invoice without showing prices or personal details.
- Anonymise reports, medical letters or research data.
Tips for the best result
- Use Find with several words separated by commas to box them all at once.
- Scanned PDFs have no text layer – draw the boxes by hand there.
- Choose 300 DPI for small print you want to keep readable around the boxes.
- Always check every page after Find: unusual spellings or line breaks can be missed.
Frequently asked questions
Is the redacted text really gone?
Yes. Each page that has a box is turned into a picture with the box drawn in, and the original page is not kept. The text, links and hidden data under the box no longer exist in the new file.
Why is drawing a black box in other apps not enough?
Many editors only add a shape on top of the page. The text stays underneath, so anyone can select it, copy it or find it with search. Real redaction removes the content itself.
Can I search for words to redact?
Yes. Type one or more words separated by commas, or choose email addresses, phone numbers or numbers, and click Find and add boxes. Every match on every page gets a box that you can check and adjust.
Will the rest of my PDF stay searchable?
Pages without boxes are copied unchanged, so their text stays selectable. Pages with boxes become images, so their text is no longer selectable.
Can I redact a scanned PDF?
Yes. Scans have no text to search, so draw the boxes by hand over the parts you want to hide.
Is my document uploaded?
No. The PDF is redacted by your own browser, so the private information never leaves your device.
Made and maintained by the Img Stop team.