Redact PDF
Draw black boxes over sensitive areas — we erase content when possible; always verify before sharing
Drop PDF here
or select a file from your device
Supported: .pdf
Click or tap and drag on the page to draw a black mask. Add as many boxes as you need, then apply.
Redacted PDF Ready
Your masked PDF is ready to download.
How redaction works
Selected regions are permanently erased when the redaction pipeline is available, then filled black. Always verify search and copy on the downloaded file before sharing. For certified legal workflows, still use a dedicated compliance tool.
Before you share
- Search the downloaded PDF for the redacted words
- Try selecting or copying over the black boxes
- Keep an unredacted master offline
Guide
Redact PDF Online Free
PdfPeaks Redact PDF is a free online tool for covering sensitive parts of a PDF. Upload a PDF, draw boxes over text, numbers or images, and download the result. When the redaction pipeline runs, the covered text and image pixels are erased and filled black. If it cannot run, the results screen says a visual mask was used, so verify before sharing. No signup is needed.
Redacting a PDF means removing information so nobody can read it later, not just drawing a black box over it. A box on its own leaves the text underneath in the file, where anyone can copy it. PdfPeaks Redact PDF is built to avoid that. You draw boxes over names, ID numbers, account details, signatures or faces, and the tool erases the text and the image pixels under each box before filling it black.
There is one thing to know up front. True removal depends on the redaction pipeline. If it cannot run, the tool falls back to a visual black mask and tells you on the results screen. That is why this page keeps repeating the same advice: download the file, search for the redacted words, and try to copy the text under the boxes before you send it.
It is free and needs no signup. It is a practical privacy tool, not certified legal redaction. For court, FOIA or HIPAA work, use dedicated compliance software and a human reviewer.
How It Works
How to redact a PDF online
Step 1: Upload your PDF. Drop the file in or select it from your device. Only .pdf files are supported.
Step 2: Draw boxes over what must go. Click and drag on the page preview to cover each name, number, signature or image. Move through the pages and cover every place the detail appears. Use Undo box to remove the last box, or Clear page to start that page again.
Step 3: Redact and download. Press Redact & Download and let the tool process the file.
Step 4: Read the result screen. It tells you whether true removal ran or a visual mask was used. If it says visual mask, treat the file as not safe until you have tested it.
Step 5: Test the download. Search it for the words you covered, try to select or copy text over the black boxes, and optionally run it through Extract Text. Nothing should come back.
Step 6: Keep your original offline. Redaction is meant to be permanent, so keep an untouched master copy for yourself. If the file also needs a password, add one afterwards with Protect PDF.
Security & Privacy
Handling sensitive PDFs
PdfPeaks encrypts files in transit and deletes them after processing. Read the Privacy Policy for details before uploading anything confidential.
Only upload documents you have the right to process. Redacting a file for sharing does not change who is allowed to hold the original, so follow your organisation’s rules for contracts, medical records, HR files and anything covered by law.
Redaction removes visible content. A PDF can also carry details in its document properties, such as an author or company name, so check those if the origin of the file matters. And a password is not redaction: anyone who has the password can read everything that is still in the file.
Keep your unredacted master somewhere safe, and delete downloaded copies from shared or public devices when you finish.
Common Use Cases
What people redact in PDFs
Bank statements: Hide account numbers, card numbers and balances when a landlord, employer or agency only needs part of the page.
ID copies: Cover an ID or CNIC number when a form only needs proof of identity, not the full number.
Contracts: Remove prices, third-party names or confidential clauses before sharing a sample.
HR and salary documents: Blank out salary figures, employee numbers and personal addresses.
Medical and case records: Cover names, dates of birth and reference numbers before documents are used for reference.
Invoices and quotes: Hide client names or pricing columns when sharing a template.
Resumes: Cover a home address or phone number before posting a CV publicly.
Demos and screenshots: Blank sample customer data before a presentation or training.
Tips for Best Results
Tips for a safe redaction
Cover every occurrence: You draw the boxes yourself, so check every page for repeated names and numbers.
Test every time: Search the download for the covered words and try to copy text over the boxes. Do not skip this.
Watch for the visual mask warning: If the results screen says a visual mask was used, do not share the file until it passes your test.
Flatten for extra safety: Convert the redacted pages to images with PDF to JPG, then rebuild a PDF with Image to PDF. This removes any text layer completely, at the cost of selectable text and a larger file.
Redact before OCR: If you will make a scan searchable, redact first so no hidden text layer is built from the sensitive area.
Do not rely on highlights or comments: Those sit on top of the page and remove nothing.
Keep the original: Store the master offline and share only the redacted copy.
Name files clearly: Use names like statement-redacted.pdf so you do not attach the wrong version.
Add a password last: Use Protect PDF after redacting, and send the password by a different channel.