Free PDF Redaction
Search any word or phrase in your PDF. Black out every match with a solid black rectangle on every page. 100% browser-based — your PDF never leaves your device.
Black Out Text in Your PDF
Drop your PDF, type a keyword, click Find & Redact. 100% in your browser.
Click, drop, or paste a PDF
Supports any .pdf file with a real text layer. You can also paste with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac). Your PDF never leaves your device.
The Best Free PDF Redaction Tool
Find every match, black out every box, see the count before you download. No signup, no watermark, no limits. 100% browser-based.
Find Every Match
Type a word or phrase. The tool searches every page of the PDF and finds every match for your keyword. See the count before you redact.
Black Out Text
Click Find & Redact. The tool draws a solid black rectangle over every match. The text is hidden behind a black box on every page.
100% Private
Your PDF never leaves your device. pdf.js finds the text, pdf-lib draws the boxes — all inside your browser. No uploads, no tracking, no copies.
Match Options
Turn on case-sensitive to match exact case. Turn on whole-word to match only full words. Combine both for precise redaction.
Redact a PDF in 3 Steps
1. Upload Your PDF
Click to pick a PDF, drag and drop, or paste from your clipboard. Any PDF file works. Your file never leaves your device.
2. Type a Keyword
Type the word or phrase you want to redact. Pick case-sensitive or whole-word mode. The tool searches every page for matches.
3. Find & Redact, then Download
Click Find & Redact. See how many matches were found. The tool draws black boxes on every match. Click Download to save the redacted PDF.
Black Out Text for Every Job
From contracts to invoices — hide the text you do not want anyone to see.
Hide Personal Data
Black out names, phone numbers, email addresses, or social security numbers before you share a contract or a form.
Share Sensitive Reports
Cover pricing, salary, or vendor details in a business report before you send it to a partner or client.
Redact Invoices
Hide customer names or account numbers on an invoice before you forward it. Keep the rest of the page intact.
Censor Drafts
Cover unfinished sections of a slide deck or contract so reviewers cannot see them, but the page layout stays the same.
Quick Black-out
Need to cover a name, date, or address in a hurry? Upload the PDF, type the word, click one button, download.
On the Go
Works on any phone, tablet, or laptop. Redact a PDF right from your browser — no install, no app, no signup.
More Free PDF Tools
All free, all browser-based. Pick the right tool for the job.
Common Questions
Is the PDF redaction tool free?
Yes. 100% free. No signup, no account, no watermark, no daily limit. Redact one PDF or a hundred — same free price forever.
How does the PDF redaction tool work?
The tool loads your PDF twice inside your browser. First it uses pdf.js to read the text on every page and find every match for your keyword (with its position and size). Then it uses pdf-lib to load the same PDF and draw a solid black rectangle on top of every match. The new PDF is saved for you to download. Nothing is sent to a server.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. Your PDF never leaves your device. All text search and redaction happens inside your browser using pdf.js and pdf-lib. There is no upload, no server copy of your file saved anywhere. 100% private.
Does this tool really remove the text from the PDF?
No. This tool covers the matching text with a solid black rectangle drawn on top of the page. The text itself is still inside the PDF file. Anyone with a PDF editor can move or delete the black boxes and the text shows again. For true redaction that removes the text data from the file, use Adobe Acrobat. This tool is the easy, free way to visually hide text in a PDF.
Can I redact a scanned PDF?
No. Scanned PDFs are images, not text. This tool searches the text layer inside a real PDF. If the PDF is just photos of pages, there is no text layer to search and no matches will be found. Run an OCR tool first to add a text layer, then use this redaction tool.
What is the difference between case-sensitive and whole-word modes?
By default the tool is case-insensitive (so "john" finds "John" and "JOHN"). Turn on case-sensitive to match only the exact case you typed. Turn on whole-word to match only the full word (so "john" matches "John" but not "Johnson"). Both options can be combined.
Will the redaction boxes line up exactly with the text?
Usually yes. The tool reads the exact position and size of each text item from the PDF and draws a black rectangle that covers it. In rare cases (custom fonts, unusual text spacing) the box may be slightly too small or too large. The tool adds a small padding to make sure the text is fully covered. You can preview the result by opening the downloaded PDF.
Can I redact a password-protected PDF?
No. The tool cannot open or read password-protected PDFs. Remove the password in your PDF reader first, save a copy without a password, and then redact that copy here.
Ready to Black Out Text in Your PDF?
Free, no signup, no watermark. Find every match. Black out every box. See the count before you download. 100% browser-based.
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