Redact PDF

Remove sensitive content from a PDF so that it is genuinely gone. You mark the areas to redact and the tool deletes the content underneath rather than drawing a black rectangle over it. This distinction is the entire point of the tool: a black box added with a drawing tool leaves the text in the file, where it can be selected, copied or recovered by anyone who thinks to try.

How to redact a PDF

  1. Upload the PDF containing material to remove.
  2. Mark the areas to redact on each page.
  3. Review every marked area before applying - redaction cannot be undone afterwards.
  4. Apply the redaction and download the cleaned document.

Frequently asked questions

Is the redacted text really unrecoverable?

The content within the marked area is removed from the page, so it is not left behind under the covering as it would be if you simply drew a box. Always check the output by trying to select text where the redaction was.

Can I redact by searching for a word instead of marking by hand?

Yes - Auto Redact PDF takes a list of words or a pattern and redacts every occurrence, which is far more reliable than hunting through a long document by eye.

Does redaction remove the information from the metadata too?

Not necessarily. A name can survive in the document title, author field or embedded XMP. Run Edit PDF Metadata or Sanitise PDF afterwards if that matters.

Can I undo a redaction?

No. Once applied, the content is gone from the output file. Keep your original if you may need it.

Other security and signing tools

Files are uploaded over an encrypted connection and processed on CoonTool's own server, not in your browser. The working copy is deleted automatically once the job is done, and in any case within 24 hours. Nothing is stored permanently and no account is required.