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Redact a PDF

Drawing a black box over text in an editor only hides it: the words stay in the file and can be copied out. PDFflow removes them for real — every page you mark is turned into an image with the marked areas painted black, so nothing is left underneath. Mark areas by hand, find a name or number everywhere at once, or let PDFflow find email addresses, phone numbers, IBANs and card numbers. The PDF never leaves your browser.

Local browser processing — files stay in this browser

Upload a PDF and mark what to hide

Your PDF is read and processed directly in this browser. PDFflow does not upload the document, file name or page contents to its servers.

File limit
50 MB
Page limit
100 pages
Processing
This browser
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By using this tool, you agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.

How it works

  1. Choose one PDF under 50 MB and 100 pages.
  2. Mark what to hide: draw boxes, search for text, or find personal data automatically. Click a mark to remove it.
  3. Redact and download. The finished file is read back to confirm that no text is left on the redacted pages.

How files are handled

Your PDF is read and redacted directly in this browser. PDFflow does not upload the document, its name or its contents to any server. Document properties, attachments and earlier saved versions are removed from the redacted copy.

Typical uses

  • Black out a client’s name or account number before sharing a document.
  • Hide salary figures, addresses or ID numbers in a scan you have to send.
  • Prepare a document for publication or for a court or authority.

Limitations

  • Redacted pages become images: their text can no longer be selected or searched. Pages without marks stay unchanged.
  • Automatic marking finds email addresses, phone numbers with a country code, IBANs and card numbers. Names and postal addresses must be searched for or marked by hand.
  • Text that is part of a scanned image cannot be found by search; mark it by hand.
  • Encrypted and password-protected PDFs are not supported. Digital signatures and form fields do not survive redaction.

Redact PDF FAQ

Is my PDF uploaded to redact it?

No. Marking and redacting happen in your browser with the selected file. PDFflow does not send the PDF, its name or its contents to any server.

Why is a black box in a PDF editor not enough?

A box drawn on top only changes what is painted on screen. The text underneath stays in the file and can be selected, copied or extracted. PDFflow turns each marked page into an image with the areas painted black, so the hidden text is gone.

Can the redacted text be recovered?

No. Redacted pages contain only the image with black areas; the original text, fonts and layers of those pages are not in the new file. PDFflow reads the finished file back to confirm that no text remains on them.

What does "Find personal data" mark?

Email addresses, phone numbers written with a country code, IBANs (checked with their check digits) and payment card numbers (checked with the Luhn algorithm). Review the marks before redacting, and search for names and addresses yourself.

Is Redact PDF free?

Yes. It is free, with no account, sign-up or watermark.

Can I redact a password-protected PDF?

No. Encrypted or password-protected PDFs are not supported and are not bypassed.

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