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Redact PDF Online

Black out national ID (KTP) numbers, bank accounts, addresses or other personal data before sharing a document. Mark the areas, and the page is converted to an image so what is behind the black box is truly gone.

Free · no sign-up · runs in your browser · updated

Use Redact PDF

Your file is processed on your device and never sent to a server.

How to use Redact PDF

  1. Choose or drag one PDF file, then open the page that contains sensitive data.

  2. Drag across the page to draw a redaction box, or press Add redaction box and adjust it with the buttons. Repeat for every area and page.

  3. Choose a resolution, press Redact and save PDF, then check the result before sharing it.

Why an ordinary black box is not enough

Many people redact a PDF by placing a black box over the text. That box is just a new layer: the text underneath is still in the file and can be selected, copied or searched. Some data leaks started with this approach.

This tool works differently. The redacted page is redrawn as an image, the black box is printed into that image, and then the original page is discarded from the result. Only pixels remain, with no text, so nothing can be recovered from behind the box.

Consequences and limits

A redacted page becomes an image: its text can no longer be selected or searched, and the file size can grow. A resolution of 200 dpi is comfortable to read; choose 300 dpi if the page has small print.

Pages that aren’t redacted are left intact, text included. The resulting document is built fresh, so the source file’s metadata, attachments and bookmarks are not carried over. After saving, the tool checks again that the redacted pages contain no text, but the final check is still your responsibility: open the result and make sure all sensitive data is covered.

Questions about Redact PDF

Is the text behind the black box really gone?

Yes, on the pages you redact. That page is rendered into an image with the black box printed into it, and the original page is not carried over to the result. The tool also re-checks that the page no longer contains text.

Why does the file get bigger?

Redacted pages become images, which are usually larger than text. Choose the JPG format and a lower resolution for a smaller file, or run Compress PDF afterward.

Do the other pages become images too?

No. Only pages that have a redaction box. Other pages are copied as they are and their text can still be selected.

What about data in the metadata or attachments?

The result is a new document, so the source file’s metadata (title, author and so on), attachments and bookmarks are not carried over. Still check the final result before sharing it.

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No. Everything runs in your browser, so documents such as contracts, diplomas or payslips never leave your device. You can test it yourself: open the tool page, wait a moment, disconnect from the internet, then choose a PDF. With an ordinary PDF, the tool keeps working.

What about password-protected PDFs?

Password-protected PDFs can’t be processed with this tool yet, and it will tell you if you choose one. Unlock the file first with the Unlock PDF tool on Tipamedia (you need the correct password), then try again.

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