Black out text in a PDF
Black out words, lines or whole paragraphs in a PDF so they can't be copied or uncovered. Free, private and in your browser.
Drop files here
or paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V
PNG, JPG, WebP PDF up to 50 pagesMax 25 MB eachUp to 20 files at once
Processed on your device. Your file is never uploaded.Prove it
How to black out text in a PDF
- Drop the PDF above.
- Click a suggested item to black it out, or drag a box over any words or lines.
- Use Find and redact to black out every occurrence of a word across all pages.
- Choose the box color (black by default) and download the new PDF.
Blacked out means removed
A black highlight in a viewer only paints over the text. Copy the page, and the words come back. Here every page is rebuilt from pixels, so blacked-out words are removed from the file itself, not just hidden from view.
Checked again before you download
After export, the result is read again with text recognition. If anything you meant to cover is still legible, you'll see it before downloading.
Private by design
Your file is opened, read and exported inside your browser tab. It is never uploaded, so nobody (including us) can see it.
Questions
Can I use a color other than black?
Yes. The Solid style lets you pick any color for the boxes.
Can someone remove the black boxes?
No. The boxes are part of the page image; there is no hidden layer to remove.
Learn more
- How to blur or black out text in a PDF (so it's really gone)
- Can blurred or pixelated text be unblurred?
- How to redact a PDF on iPhone (in Safari, no app)
- How to redact a PDF on Android (in Chrome, no app)
- How to redact a PDF on a Mac (and why drawing a box isn't enough)
- How to redact court documents: a practical checklist
- What is redaction? A practical explanation
- How to redact a Word document