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Drag your file into the box above, or click to browse. Files up to 10 MB work for free. No account, no added cover page and no watermark.
How to Redact a PDF in Seconds
Upload a PDF, draw a box over anything you need to hide, and download the redacted file. Learn how to redact in a PDF without installing anything.
Your document. Your browser. Your control.
Keep the file. Lose the details.
Drop your PDF here, or choose a file to begin.
PDF only · Up to 10 MB · Unlimited files
Processed on your device. Your PDF never leaves this browser.
1. Open a PDF2. Mark details3. Apply redaction4. Download
Remove the content. Keep the rest readable.
Local processing, explained ↗How to Redact a PDF Online — Step by Step
One file. Four steps. Your PDF stays in your browser from start to finish.
Mark what needs to go
Choose Draw box, then drag across a name, account number, signature or photo. Add several regions across multiple pages. Undo a mistake or mark a whole page.
Apply the redaction
This is the step that matters. RedactGo removes the marked content from the PDF and adds a solid black area. Unmarked text remains searchable and copyable.
Review and download
Review the actual exported PDF, then save your copy. Your original file stays unchanged on your device. Close & clear releases the document from this editing session.
See the workspace.
A fictional service agreement, with the private details marked. No customer documents appear in this preview.
How to Redact in a PDF on Desktop, Mac and Word
A PDF viewer, a shape tool and a redaction tool do different jobs. Choose a workflow that removes content from the saved file.
Adobe Acrobat
Use Acrobat’s dedicated Redact tool, mark the content and apply the redactions. Review the saved copy. Feature availability depends on your Acrobat product and plan.
Preview on Mac
Preview includes a Redaction Selection tool that permanently removes selected text when the document is saved. Drawing a rectangle with the Shapes tool is different: it adds a covering shape. Use the dedicated redaction tool and verify your saved copy.
Microsoft Word
Word can convert some PDFs into editable documents. Delete sensitive content and export a new PDF, then check the layout and the result. Conversion can change tables and formatting; drawing a black shape over text is not redaction.
How to Redact a PDF Free
No signup. No watermark. No payment to unlock your download.
- No account or email required to start.
- Files up to 10 MB, with no daily file quota.
- The complete mark, apply, preview and download workflow is free.
- Runs locally in a modern browser. No desktop software to install.
Ready to work entirely in your browser? Redact a PDF online and learn what local processing means.
Blacking Out a PDF vs. Real Redaction
Two documents can look identical and contain very different information. A black rectangle alone does not tell you what remains in the file.
| A covering shape | Real redaction | |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | A black rectangle is placed on top. | The marked content is removed from the PDF. |
| Underlying text | May still be searchable, selectable or recoverable. | Removed text is absent from the exported content. |
| Before sharing | Do not rely on appearance alone. | Review the output and check for other sensitive information. |
RedactGo removes the content you mark in supported PDFs. It does not automatically find every private detail elsewhere in the document. Learn what to check when you black out a PDF.
When You Need to Redact a PDF
Share the relevant information. Leave personal details out.
Contracts & agreements
Remove client names, contact details and visible signatures before sharing a working copy.
HR & personnel files
Keep the information a colleague needs while removing personal identifiers and bank details.
Medical records
Mark patient identifiers before sharing an excerpt. Review the whole document for repeated details.
Tax & financial files
Remove account numbers, addresses and other private details from invoices and statements.
Legal documents
Prepare a review copy with selected content removed. Follow the rules that apply to your filing.
Leases & property
Conceal tenant details or payment information while keeping the relevant terms readable.
What Does “Redacted” Mean?
Redaction means removing sensitive information from a document before distributing a copy. The black bars you see on public records or court documents indicate where material has been withheld.
With a PDF, the important part happens underneath the bar: the selected content must be removed from the saved file. Review the entire output for repeated names, identifiers and information you did not mark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this PDF redactor really free?
Yes. Open, redact and download PDFs up to 10 MB without paying or creating an account. There is no daily file quota and no watermark. Process one document at a time, then close and clear the session before starting another.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No account, email or desktop installation is required. The redaction tool runs in your browser. The first time you open a file, the browser downloads the processing software; your PDF itself is never uploaded.
Will the redacted text still be copyable?
The text you successfully redact is removed from the exported PDF content, rather than covered by a shape. Unmarked text remains searchable and copyable. Check the actual output before sharing, including any occurrences of sensitive information you did not mark.
Can I redact images and whole pages, not just text?
Yes. Mark text, supported images, visible signatures or stamps, or select a whole page. Whole-page redaction retains the page size and position. Some image encodings cannot be safely edited in part; the tool blocks those exports instead of silently deleting the entire image.
Is my file safe? Do you store it?
Your PDF is processed locally in your browser and is never uploaded to our servers. We do not keep document histories or publish user files. Close & clear or close the tab to release the editing session. Your original and any downloads remain on your device.
Can I redact a PDF on my phone?
The interface supports touch browsers on phones and tablets. Use Draw box to mark an area, and Browse to scroll without adding marks. Processing capacity depends on your device and browser. If a document is too complex or memory-intensive, try a smaller file or a desktop browser.
Does redaction remove hidden metadata and comments?
Exports remove basic document metadata, such as author, title and creation date, and embedded attachments. Annotations intersecting a marked region are removed. This does not discover every sensitive detail elsewhere. Documents with interactive forms, scripts or tagged structure are rejected when they cannot be safely rewritten.
What’s the difference between redaction and blacking out?
A black shape can cover text while leaving the underlying content intact. Redaction removes the selected content from the file. RedactGo applies content removal before creating the output preview. A document that only looks redacted still needs to be checked before it is shared.
How long does it take?
It depends on the file, your device and how many regions you mark. Small, simple documents are usually faster than image-heavy files. RedactGo shows a processing state while it works and lets you cancel. There is no fixed completion-time guarantee.
Is there a file size limit?
Yes: each PDF must be no larger than 10 MB (10,000,000 bytes). There is no daily file quota. Large or complex PDFs can also exceed a device’s available memory. There is currently no paid upgrade for larger files.
Your PDF.
Processed locally. Kept private.
Private details. Off the record.
For contracts, HR files, financial documents and the everyday things you need to share thoughtfully.
Redact your PDF ↗