Redact PDF
Permanently remove sensitive content from PDFs. True redaction — not black boxes. Text is destroyed, not hidden. Free, browser-based, nothing uploaded.
Upload PDF to redact
PDF up to 100 MB · Processed locally — nothing uploaded
Permanently remove sensitive content from any PDF free — no software, no uploads. Draw areas over confidential text, personal data, financial figures, or any sensitive information, then apply true redaction. Redacted pages are re-rendered as images with the content destroyed — not just hidden behind a black box. Nothing is uploaded to any server.
How to Redact a PDF
Upload your PDF using the drag-and-drop area or browse button.
Switch to Draw mode and drag to mark areas containing sensitive content — names, addresses, financial data, signatures, or anything that must be removed.
Add as many redaction areas as needed across any number of pages. Hover any box and click X to remove it. Use Undo to reverse the last action.
Click Apply Redaction to permanently destroy all marked content. Each redacted page is re-rendered as an image — the text layer is gone.
Download your redacted PDF. The content is permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
Why choose PDFCrush for how to redact a pdf?
True permanent redaction — text layer destroyed, not hidden behind a shape
Content cannot be selected, copied, searched, or extracted from redacted areas
Multiple areas across multiple pages in a single redaction pass
Undo/redo history for precise control over your selections
Draw mode and scroll mode toggle for easy navigation on mobile and desktop
100% private — confidential documents never leave your device
Free with no registration, watermarks, or file size limits
Common use cases
Redacting personal data (names, addresses, ID numbers) from legal filings
Removing financial figures from documents before sharing with external parties
Protecting patient information in medical records
Removing confidential clauses from contracts before distribution
Redacting witness information from police reports
Removing proprietary data before submitting documents in litigation
Your privacy is protected
All redaction processing runs client-side in your browser. Your PDF — including any sensitive personal, financial, or legal content — is never uploaded to or stored on any server. Redaction is applied using the Canvas API to permanently destroy the content before rebuilding the PDF.
Frequently asked questions
What is PDF redaction?
Redaction permanently removes sensitive content from a PDF so it cannot be recovered. PDFCrush converts redacted pages to image-only format — the original text is destroyed, not just hidden.
How do I redact a PDF?
Upload your PDF, switch to Draw mode, drag to mark areas containing sensitive content, then click Apply Redaction. The redacted PDF downloads instantly with all marked content permanently removed.
Is the redaction truly permanent?
Yes. PDFCrush renders each redacted page to a JPEG image with black pixels over the marked areas, then rebuilds the PDF from that image. The original text is destroyed — it cannot be selected, copied, searched, or extracted.
Can someone recover the redacted content?
No. The text layer of any redacted page is permanently replaced with an image. There is no hidden text layer, no metadata remnant, and no way to reverse the redaction once applied.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. All processing runs in your browser using WebAssembly and the Canvas API. Your files never leave your device — critical for confidential, legal, and sensitive documents.
What types of content can be redacted?
Any visible content: text, images, signatures, personal data, financial figures, addresses, and any other information visible on the page.
Can I redact multiple areas and pages?
Yes. Draw as many redaction boxes as needed across any number of pages. All marked areas are applied in a single pass when you click Apply Redaction.
Is there a file size or page limit?
No hard limits. Large PDFs may take longer to process since each redacted page is re-rendered at high resolution. Processing runs locally on your device.
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