Redact a PDF
Share a document without the account numbers, home address or names in it. Draw boxes; PaperCircuit makes sure the hidden text is actually gone.
Drop a PDF file here
Free · no signup · no watermark · files stay on this device · how local processing works
How to use Redact PDF
- Open the PDFBrowse to each page that has something to hide.
- Draw redaction boxesDrag black rectangles over the sensitive areas; Undo removes the last one.
- Apply redactionsPages with boxes are rebuilt as images; other pages stay as they were.
Why black rectangles aren’t enough
A black box drawn in most editors is just a shape lying on top of text that is still there — anyone can select and copy it. Court filings and government reports have leaked this way. True redaction must remove the underlying content.
How this tool redacts
Every page that has at least one box is rendered to an image at the quality you choose, the black boxes are burned into the pixels, and that image replaces the page. Text, hidden layers, links and form data on that page are discarded. Pages without boxes are copied unchanged, so their text stays selectable.
Before you share
Check the result: redacted pages will no longer have selectable text, which is the point. Remember to also clear the document properties with Edit metadata if the author or title reveal anything.
Questions about Redact PDF
Can a redaction be reversed?
No. The original pixels under the box and the text of that page are not in the output file.
Why is the redacted file bigger?
Pages turned into images take more space than text. Choose 110 dpi if size matters.
Can it find and redact a word automatically?
Search-based redaction is planned; for now, draw boxes on each occurrence.
Can I redact on several pages?
Yes. Use the page arrows to move through the document and draw boxes on every page that needs them; only the pages with boxes are turned into images, the rest keep their selectable text.
Which quality should I choose for redacted pages?
150 dpi reads well on screen and in office prints. Choose 220 dpi for small print or fine drawings, and 110 dpi when the redacted file has to stay small; pages without boxes are not affected by this setting.