Redact a PDF or image permanently

Why a black box isn't enough

Drawing a black rectangle over text in most PDF editors only adds a shape on top of the page. The text underneath is still in the file. Anyone can select and copy it, find it with search, or delete the box. Badly redacted court filings and government documents have leaked exactly this way.

This tool does it properly. Every page with something marked is rebuilt as a flat image with the black boxes burned in, so the original text, along with any hidden layers or form data on that page, no longer exists in the file. After saving, the tool re-opens the new PDF and checks that the redacted pages contain no text and that the words you searched for can't be found.

How to redact a PDF

1. Add the PDF or image. It opens in the page, not on a server.
2. Mark what to hide. Type a name, account number or address into the search box and click "Find & mark", or use the buttons to mark every email address, phone number or long number. Drag on the page to mark anything else, such as a signature, photo or barcode.
3. Check every page. Automatic matches are positioned from the text, so look at each box and add a larger one if anything peeks out.
4. Click "Redact and download".

What to redact before sharing

• Bank statements for a rental or loan application: account and sort code or routing numbers, card numbers, and transactions that aren't relevant.
• Payslips and tax forms: National Insurance or Social Security numbers, employee IDs, home address.
• Medical and legal letters: names of other people, reference numbers, diagnoses that aren't needed.
• Screenshots: usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, profile photos.

Ask what the recipient actually needs. Often a statement only needs to show your name, the bank and the balance.