How to use Redact PDF
- Add your PDF. Drag it into the box above, or tap Select PDF file.
- Mark what to remove. Draw boxes over sensitive areas, or search for a word or number and mark every match.
- Apply and check. Press Apply redactions, then test the result by copying and pasting.
Real redaction, not black boxes
Drawing a black rectangle in most PDF editors only covers the text. It's still in the file, and anyone can copy it out. This has caused real data leaks, including court filings.
PDFWisely rebuilds every page you redact as an image with the marked areas blacked out, so the hidden text, and anything else underneath, is permanently gone. Pages without redactions are left untouched.
Redaction checklist
- Search for every name, number and address you need to hide. Don't rely on scrolling.
- Check headers, footers, tables and image captions.
- After applying, open the file, press Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac), copy, and paste into a text editor. Nothing sensitive should appear.
- Clean the hidden details too with Remove PDF Metadata.
Private by design
Your files are processed entirely inside your browser on your own device. Nothing is uploaded to PDFWisely, so there's nothing for us to store, read or delete. You can even disconnect from the internet after this page loads.
Frequently asked questions
Is the redacted text really gone?
Yes. Redacted pages are rebuilt as images, so the original text on those pages no longer exists in the file.
Will I still be able to search the document?
Pages without redactions stay searchable. Redacted pages become images, so their text isn't searchable.
Does Find work on scanned documents?
No, scans don't contain searchable text. Draw redaction boxes by hand on scanned pages.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Redaction happens entirely in your browser.