How to hide private details in a PDF for real

Putting a black rectangle over text in a normal PDF editor often hides nothing: the text is still underneath and can be copied. The Redact PDF tool burns the black boxes into the page picture, so the hidden words are really gone.

Steps

1. Open the Redact PDF tool and add your PDF.
2. Go to the page with the private detail.
3. Draw a box over every name, number or address you want to hide.
4. Check every page once more, then press the button to apply.
5. Download the new PDF and open it. Try to select the hidden text. You should not be able to.

Open the tool: Redact PDF

Good to know

• Keep your original file. A redacted file cannot be undone.
• Look at every page, including headers, footers and small print.
• This is a basic tool. It is not a certified legal redaction, so for court or official use ask a professional.
• Hidden details can also sit in the file info. Use the PDF Metadata Cleaner too.