Redact PDF Text Online
Draw redaction boxes over any sensitive text, names, numbers, or areas in a PDF. PDF-lib permanently burns solid fills into the PDF binary — the content underneath is completely and irreversibly removed. No sign-up, no upload, 100% private.
Our free PDF redaction tool lets you permanently redact PDF text online without sign-up or server upload. Upload any PDF, then click and drag to draw black redaction rectangles over sensitive content — names, addresses, phone numbers, financial data, social security numbers, or any area you need to hide. Unlike tools that simply add a visual layer, this tool uses PDF-lib to burn solid filled rectangles directly into the PDF page content stream at the binary level, making the underlying data completely and permanently unrecoverable. Choose from black, dark grey, white, or a custom redaction colour. Add optional redaction labels. Supports multi-page PDFs with a visual page thumbnail panel. Whether you need to black out sensitive information in a PDF before sharing, comply with data privacy requirements, or censor confidential content, this free browser-based tool handles it with 100% local processing and zero data transmission.
PDF Redaction Tool — Drag to Redact, Apply to Burn Permanently
Upload PDF › Drag over areas to redact › Apply Redactions › Download permanently redacted PDF
🔒 Your file never leaves your device • 100% private • No sign-up required
How to Redact a PDF Online
Upload Your PDF
Drag and drop a PDF or click "Open PDF File". PDF.js renders every page locally with full visual fidelity — you can see exactly what you are about to redact. Your file never leaves your device.
Draw Redaction Boxes
Click and drag over any text, name, number, or area you want to permanently remove. Black redaction rectangles appear as a preview. Draw as many boxes as needed across all pages. Switch to Select mode to click a box and delete it with the Delete key.
Apply & Download
Click "Apply Redactions" — PDF-lib draws solid filled rectangles directly onto each PDF page's content stream at binary level. The redacted PDF downloads automatically. The content beneath each redaction is permanently and irreversibly removed.
PDF Redaction Features
Drag-to-Draw Redaction Boxes
Click and drag over any part of a PDF page to draw a precise redaction rectangle. Red handles show while drawing, final box shown in your chosen redaction colour.
Permanent Binary Redaction
PDF-lib draws filled rectangles directly onto the PDF page content stream. Unlike annotation overlays, this permanently replaces the content — unrecoverable even with PDF inspection tools.
Redaction Colour Options
Black (standard redaction), dark grey, grey, dark blue, dark green, white (for light text on dark backgrounds), or a fully custom colour via the colour picker.
Optional Redaction Labels
Add a label text like "REDACTED", "CLASSIFIED", or a reference number to each redaction box. The label is rendered in white text over the redacted area in the final PDF.
Select Mode — Click to Delete
Switch to Select mode to click any redaction box on the page and select it (shown with a red border). Press the Delete or Backspace key to remove that specific redaction. Undo removes the most recent box.
Multi-Page Support
Navigate all pages using the thumbnail panel. Redaction boxes are tracked per page — the thumbnail panel shows a red badge on pages with redactions. All pages are processed together on Apply.