Redact PDF — Black Out Sensitive Information
Draw redaction boxes over text and download a permanently censored PDF. 100% in your browser.
Drop a PDF here or click to upload
Select PDFRedaction options
Redact Sensitive PDF Content
Protect private information by drawing redaction boxes over sensitive text, names, account numbers, or any content you need to hide. Creatorr's redact tool permanently covers the selected areas with solid color rectangles.
How It Works
- Upload your PDF document.
- Draw rectangles over the areas you want to redact.
- Review all redaction boxes before downloading.
- Download the permanently redacted PDF.
Is the Redaction Permanent?
Yes. The tool draws filled rectangles directly on the PDF page content. Once saved, the covered text cannot be retrieved from the downloaded file. Always verify your redactions before sharing.
When to Redact a PDF
- Legal filings — Black out Social Security numbers, addresses, or financial details before submitting court documents.
- HR and hiring — Remove candidate names and photos for blind resume reviews to reduce hiring bias.
- Medical records — Hide patient identifiers before sharing case studies or insurance paperwork.
- Government requests — FOIA responses and public records often require redaction of exempt information.
- Client deliverables — Remove internal pricing, comments, or metadata before sending proposals to clients.
Redaction vs. Highlight vs. White-Out
Highlighting or placing a white rectangle over text may look hidden on screen, but the underlying text can still be copied, searched, or extracted. True redaction permanently removes access to the covered content. Creatorr's redact tool draws opaque filled rectangles on the page stream itself, so the original text is irrecoverable once saved.
Tips for Effective Redaction
- Zoom in to ensure the box fully covers the text, including descenders and ascenders.
- Redact one section at a time and verify each before moving to the next page.
- After redacting, flatten the PDF to merge all layers into a single flat page.
- For extra security, password-protect the redacted file before sharing.
Privacy
All processing runs in your browser using pdf-lib and pdf.js. Your document never leaves your device. No data is transmitted, no file is stored on any server, and no account is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the redaction permanent and irreversible?
Yes. The boxes you draw are flattened directly into the PDF page content on download, so the covered text cannot be selected, copied, or recovered from the saved file. Always keep a copy of the original if you may need the hidden information later.
Why isn't a black highlight or white box enough?
Highlights and simple white rectangles only sit on top visually — the underlying text is still in the file and can be copied or extracted. This tool burns opaque rectangles into the page stream itself, which is true redaction.
Are my documents uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser using pdf-lib and pdf.js. Your file never leaves your device, which is essential for legal, medical, and financial documents.
Can I redact multiple pages?
Yes. Move through the document page by page and draw redaction boxes wherever you need them. Each page's boxes are applied when you download.
Is it free?
Completely free, with no signup, no watermark, and no page limit.