--- title: "Redact PDF Online - Permanently Black Out Content | CanDoYa" description: "Redact PDF pages online by drawing permanent black boxes. Export a flattened copy locally in your browser with no file upload or sign-up." url: https://candoya.com/tools/redact-pdf/ locale: en type: browser-tool --- # Redact PDF Online Category: PDF ## How can I permanently redact a PDF online? A PDF redaction tool permanently hides sensitive text and images before you share a document. Add a PDF, draw black boxes over private areas, then export a flattened copy. Each page is rebuilt as an image, so the source text, links, form fields, comments, and metadata are not copied into the download. **This tool uses rasterized redaction, not a removable overlay.** It renders each source page, burns your black boxes into the pixels, and creates a new PDF from those page images. The result trades selectable text and links for a simpler file that does not contain the original PDF content streams. All preview and export work runs locally in your browser. Files can contain up to 100 pages and be up to 50 MB, subject to the memory available on your device. ## How to use it 1. **Add the PDF** - Choose a PDF from your device or drop it into the workspace. The file opens locally in your browser. 2. **Mark sensitive areas** - Move through the pages and drag a black box over every item you want to remove. Undo a box or clear all marks if needed. 3. **Apply the redactions** - Export the document. The tool rasterizes every page and burns each black box into the matching page image. 4. **Verify the copy** - Download the redacted PDF, inspect every page, and confirm that no sensitive area was missed before sharing it. ## Who it's for - **Legal and operations teams** can remove names, addresses, case numbers, and signatures from a document shared outside the organization. - **Finance staff** can black out account numbers, balances, tax identifiers, or transaction details before sending a statement. - **Recruiters and researchers** can anonymize resumes, interview notes, and participant records for review. - **Individuals** can cover personal details on bills, IDs, forms, or correspondence before sharing a copy. ## Expert note A black rectangle added as a PDF annotation can be deleted while leaving the text underneath intact. This tool instead rebuilds every page from rendered pixels, which removes the source content streams but also makes the output text non-selectable and may increase file size. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is my PDF uploaded when I redact it? No. Your PDF is opened, previewed, rasterized, and rebuilt by code running in your browser. CanDoYa does not receive the file. The only copy created by the tool is the redacted PDF that your browser offers for download. ### Is this PDF redaction tool free? Yes. You can redact and download a PDF without payment, an account, or a watermark. Each file can be up to 50 MB and contain up to 100 pages. Very large pages may still be limited by the memory available to your browser. ### Does the tool permanently remove text under the black boxes? Yes, from the exported copy. The tool renders each source page to an image, draws the black boxes into that image, and builds a new PDF. It does not copy the original text or image objects into the result. Keep the original file separate. ### Will text still be searchable or selectable after redaction? No. Rasterizing the pages converts the visible document into page images, so ordinary text selection, search, links, form fields, and accessibility structure are not preserved. This is the tradeoff used here to avoid carrying the source content streams into the exported PDF. ### Does redaction remove PDF metadata and comments? The output is a newly created PDF containing page images rather than a modified copy of the source. Source metadata, comments, attachments, links, and form fields are not copied. The new file receives only basic creator information identifying the CanDoYa redaction tool. ### Can I undo a redaction after downloading? No. The exported black boxes are burned into the page images and cannot be moved or deleted to reveal the covered pixels. Keep your original PDF in a safe location, and use Undo on page or Clear all boxes before exporting if a mark is misplaced. ### What should I check before sharing a redacted PDF? Open the downloaded copy, inspect every page at high zoom, and confirm that each sensitive area is fully covered. Search for unexpected blank pages or clipped marks. For regulated disclosure or high-risk legal work, follow your organization's approved redaction and review procedure. ## Related tools - [PDF Metadata Editor](https://candoya.com/tools/edit-pdf-metadata/) - [Crop PDF](https://candoya.com/tools/crop-pdf/) - [PDF Watermark](https://candoya.com/tools/add-watermark-to-pdf/) - [PDF Signer](https://candoya.com/tools/sign-pdf/) - [PDF to Image](https://candoya.com/tools/pdf-to-image/) --- *Markdown edition of , published for AI agents and other automated readers. Index of key pages: .*