Redact PDF

Redact a PDF online free

Black out sensitive information in a PDF for good: the matching text is deleted from the file, not just hidden under a box.

Free, no account. Redact PDF runs in your browser on this page. Your file is processed on Folio's own server and deleted automatically after 6 hours.

All 41 PDF tools FAQ

Matching text is removed from the file, not just covered, and the metadata can be wiped too.

How to redact a PDF with Folio

  1. Open Redact PDF on this page, or pick it from the list of all tools on the Folio home page.
  2. Add your file: drop it on the page or click to pick it.
  3. Set the options you need, such as words or phrases and whole words only.
  4. Run it and download the result. When there are several output files you can download them together as a ZIP.

What you can set

  • Words or phrases
  • Whole words only
  • Case sensitive
  • Email addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • Credit card numbers
  • IBAN / bank accounts
  • Dates
  • Web links (URLs)
  • ID numbers (Aadhaar, SSN)
  • Custom regular expression
  • Box color
  • Pages
  • Also remove metadata

Files it accepts

PDF. Password-protected PDFs work too: enter the password in the options.

Redact PDF: questions and answers

How do I redact a PDF for free?

Type the words or phrases to remove, or tick ready-made patterns such as email addresses, phone numbers, card numbers, bank accounts, dates, links and ID numbers, then run Redact PDF.

Is the redacted text really gone?

Yes. The matching text is deleted from the PDF and a box is drawn in its place, so it can't be copied or searched. Metadata such as the author can be wiped too.

Can it redact Aadhaar numbers?

Yes. The “ID numbers” pattern finds 12-digit Aadhaar numbers (with or without spaces) and US Social Security numbers. It works on real text; on a scanned page, run OCR PDF first.

Is Redact PDF free?

Yes. Redact PDF on Folio is free, with no account, no sign-up and no watermark on the result.

Are my files safe?

Your files are processed on Folio's own server only to run the tool, and deleted automatically after 6 hours. There is no account, so they are not linked to you.

Related tools

  • Protect PDF Encrypt a PDF with a password (AES-256) and choose what readers may do.
  • Unlock PDF Remove the password and restrictions from a PDF you're allowed to open.
  • Sign PDF Place your signature image or a typed signature on a page, with an optional date.

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