How to use Redact PDF
- 1
Pick the PDF you want to redact.
- 2
Go to each page and drag across a name, number, signature or picture to cover it with a black box.
- 3
Press × on a box if you drew it in the wrong place.
- 4
Press "Redact PDF" and download the redacted copy. Keep your original somewhere safe.
What this tool does
Redact PDF permanently removes information from a PDF. You mark what should go with black boxes, and the tool rebuilds the document so the covered text and images are gone, not just hidden behind a shape.
Features
- Draw boxes over text, numbers, signatures, photos or anything else on the page.
- True removal: marked pages are redrawn as images with the areas painted black, and the new file is built from scratch, so none of the original content of those pages remains.
- Unmarked pages stay as they are, with sharp, selectable text.
- Quality choice of 150, 200 or 300 dpi for the redacted pages.
- Document details removed by default, because the title or author can name people.
Limits
- Text on a redacted page can no longer be selected or searched.
- There is no automatic search for words or patterns such as phone numbers; you mark each area yourself.
- Bookmarks, links, form fields and comments are not kept.
- Password-protected PDFs need to be unlocked first.
- Always check the result before you share it, and keep the original in a safe place.
Where your file is processed
This tool works in your browser: your PDF is processed on your own device, so it isn't sent to our server for this tool. Some other tools on UtiloNest do use our server, and their pages say so.
Frequently asked questions
Why not just draw a black rectangle in another app?
A rectangle drawn on top of a PDF usually only covers the text. The words are still in the file, so anyone can select them, copy them or remove the rectangle. This tool turns every page that has a box into a picture with the area painted black, so the hidden content no longer exists in the file at all.
What happens to the pages I didn't mark?
They are copied as they are, so their text stays sharp, searchable and selectable. Only pages with at least one box are turned into images.
Can I still select text on a redacted page?
No. A redacted page is an image, so none of its text can be selected or searched, including the parts you didn't cover. Run OCR on the redacted copy if you need that text to be searchable again.
Are hidden details like the title or author removed too?
Yes, by default. The document title, author, subject and keywords can contain names, so they are left out unless you tick "Keep the title and author". Bookmarks and form fields are not kept either.
Where is my file processed?
In your browser. This tool works on your own device, so the file isn't sent to our server for it.