Need to share a document but hide a name, an address, an account number or a signature? This page lets you black out text in a PDF so it is truly removed, not just covered. Pages with black boxes are flattened when you save, so the hidden words cannot be copied, searched or uncovered. Everything stays on your device.
Black out text step by step
- Click Choose a PDF and pick the file. Type the password if it asks for one.
- Drag a box over each part to hide. Click a box to remove it if you made a mistake.
- To hide one word or number everywhere, type it under Find and redact and click Mark all.
- Click Save redacted PDF and check the result before you send it.
What people black out
| Document | Typical items |
|---|---|
| Bank statement for a rental application | Account numbers, other transactions |
| Payslip or tax form | SSN, salary details, home address |
| Contract shared with a third party | Prices, names of other parties |
| Medical or school records | Names, dates of birth, ID numbers |
| Screenshots or scans saved as PDF | Faces, signatures, e-mail addresses |
The buttons for E-mail addresses, Phone numbers, US SSNs, Card numbers, IBANs and Dates mark every match at once. Always check the pages afterwards; pattern matching can miss an unusual format.
Covered is not the same as removed
A black highlight or shape added in many PDF editors only sits on top of the text, and the text can still be copied out of the file. That is why this page flattens each blacked-out page. The trade-off: those pages lose their selectable text and links. Pages you did not touch stay as they were. More detail on how it works: Redact PDF.