How to redact a PDF
Follow these steps to cover personal data in a PDF before you share it. Use the tool on this page.
- 1Upload the PDF.
- 2Click a page. Choose rectangle, circle, or polygon and draw over anything sensitive.
- 3Confirm each page, verify your email, and download the redacted PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How do I black out text in a PDF?
Upload the PDF, open a page, draw a rectangle, circle, or polygon over the text, confirm the page, then download. The marks are part of the new file.
Will search still find redacted PDF text?
No — the download is a flattened PDF of page images with covers painted on, so there's no text layer left underneath a redaction. Review every page so nothing sensitive sits outside a shape before you confirm it.
Is drawing a black box over text in Word or PowerPoint enough?
No. A shape drawn on top of text in most word processors and slide tools still leaves the original text selectable and copyable underneath — it only looks redacted. Exporting to PDF from those tools can carry the same problem, so check the result carefully or use a tool built for redaction.
What should I check before downloading?
Open every page, not just the ones you remember having sensitive data. Zoom in on small print, headers, and footers, and check that each shape fully covers the text with a small margin on every side.
Can I undo a redaction after I download the file?
No. The download is permanent — bars, circles, and polygons are burned into the exported file. Keep your original, unredacted file somewhere safe in case you need to make a different redaction later.