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Redact information in a PDF

Mark sensitive words or areas, review them, and permanently remove the marked content.

Before you start: Keep a separate copy of the original PDF. In Customise, choose Redact. Applying redactions permanently removes the marked content.
Silent video · 14 seconds. Follow the numbered steps below. Use fullscreen for a closer view.

  1. Mark specific words

    Choose Text in Redact, then drag across the words that need to be removed.

  2. Mark a larger area

    Choose Area and drag a rectangle around a region to remove. Check the boundaries so you include all of the intended information.

  3. Review and apply

    Inspect every mark and remove any that are wrong. Choose Apply redactions and confirm the permanent removal when prompted.

  4. Export and verify

    Check the redacted pages, continue to review and export a new PDF. Reopen that file and check the redacted areas, including searching or copying the removed text, before sharing it.

Tip: Send the checked, redacted export. Keep the original PDF separately when you need an unchanged copy.

Common questions

Are the red outlines already redacted?

No. Outlines mark proposed removals. You must apply and confirm the redactions, then export the result.

Can I use highlight or strikeout instead?

Those are review annotations. Use Redact when the underlying content must be removed.

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