MapMyPDF
Start free
All tools 25 tools PDF to JPG Convert JPG to PDF Convert PDF to Text Convert Merge PDF Organise Split PDF Organise Make a Booklet Organise Organize PDF Organise Resize PDF Organise Rotate PDF Organise Delete Pages Organise Watermark PDF Organise Page numbers Organise Redact PDF Organise Bates numbering Organise Sign PDF Organise Compress Image Compress Create a ZIP Create Open a ZIP Create Invoice generator Create Passport photo Create Certificates Create Label Sheets Create Statement to Invoice Create Presenter Create Image Editor Create Guides How it works FAQ About Privacy Support us

Redact a PDF for real

Draw a box over anything private. The page becomes an image. The words under the box are gone from the file. Pages without boxes keep their text.

Stays on your device Free
1. Add the PDF

Draw a box over anything private. Only pages with a box are flattened.

Local only
Drop a PDF here, or click to choose Redaction runs in your browser
of 1
No boxes yet

Drag on the page to draw a box. Press Ctrl and Z to undo.

Higher quality keeps small text sharp. It makes a bigger file.

This page has no boxes.

Pages with boxes become images. The words under each box leave the file. Pages without boxes keep their text. The old file details are dropped too.
Add a PDF to begin.
Redacted PDF ready

This runs in your browser. Your file is not sent to us.

How to use redact pdf

  1. Add the PDF. Drop a file. The first page shows in the preview.
  2. Draw the boxes. Drag over names, numbers or anything private. Use the arrows to change page.
  3. Download the clean copy. Press Redact. Boxed pages become images with the words removed.

What you get

  • Words under the box are removed, not hidden
  • Only pages with a box are flattened
  • Black or white boxes
  • Pick 150, 200 or 300 DPI
  • No upload, no sign-up, no watermark

Why this runs in your browser

Most free PDF sites ask you to upload your file. Then you wait. Then you hope they delete their copy. That is a bad deal for a payslip, a contract or a passport scan.

Redact PDF reads the file on your device and saves the result to your downloads folder. There is no upload and no copy on a server. For the details, see how it works.

Redact PDF questions

What makes this redaction real?

Many free tools only draw a black box. The words stay in the file and can be copied out. Here the page becomes an image, so the words are gone.

Do the other pages keep their text?

Yes. Only pages with a box are turned into images. The rest keep their text, links and small file size.

Can I redact the same spot on every page?

Yes. Draw the box once, then press Use on all pages. This helps with a name or account number in a header.

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. Your browser reads the file and writes the new one. Nothing is sent to us.

Can someone undo a box after I save?

No. The page is one flat image. There is no text under the box to recover.

Which quality should I pick?

200 DPI is a good default. Pick 300 DPI for small print or a court filing. Pick 150 DPI when the file must stay small.

Can I undo a box?

Yes. Press Undo box, or press Ctrl and Z. Clear page removes every box on the page you see.

Is there a page limit?

No hard limit. Very large files take longer, because your own device does the work.