PDF tools
Redact PDF pages
Black out entire pages you specify.
Run Redact PDF pages online
In-browserDocument processing runs on your device. External resources may still load.
Enable JavaScript to use the interactive tool. Read the instructions, limitations and FAQs below before starting.
PDF redaction permanently removes sensitive information from a document — names, identity numbers, account numbers, salary figures, or any content that must not be visible to the recipient. Unlike simply drawing a black box over text (which is just a visual overlay and can be removed), true redaction deletes the underlying content permanently.
This tool applies permanent redaction: the selected content is removed from the PDF's content streams and replaced with a solid black rectangle. Once redacted, the text cannot be recovered by selecting behind the box, copy-pasting, or inspecting the raw PDF source. This meets the standard required for legal discovery document disclosure, GDPR/DPDP compliance, and other privacy regulations.
Lawyers, HR professionals, and compliance officers use PDF redaction before disclosing documents in litigation, sharing employee records under data protection requests, or releasing government documents under RTI (Right to Information) requests. The tool protects individuals' sensitive information during controlled disclosure.
How to use this utility
- Use the controls below—paste text, pick files, or adjust options as described on the tool.
- Click the main action button. Processing runs in your browser on this device.
- Download or copy the output. Check the processing note for any external services used by this operation.
Common use cases
- Redacting account numbers, Aadhaar numbers, and phone numbers from a shared bank statement.
- Removing employee salary figures before sharing an HR document with a third party.
- Redacting personal information from legal case documents before court filing.
- Removing confidential clauses from a contract before sharing a sanitised version.
- Redacting patient health information from a medical document for research sharing.
Tips for best results
- 1Always use true redaction (not black box drawing) for legally sensitive documents — drawn boxes can be removed; true redaction cannot.
- 2After redaction, use a PDF inspector or open the file in a text editor to verify the redacted text is not recoverable in the raw file source.
- 3Redact metadata too (author, title, keywords) if the document contains identifying information — use the Edit PDF tool to remove document metadata after content redaction.
- 4For bulk redaction of the same repeated term (e.g., a person's name throughout a document), use the search-and-redact feature if available — this finds all instances automatically.
- 5Keep the original unredacted version in a secure location — redaction is permanent and cannot be undone.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Konnect2Tools free?
- Yes. These in-browser tools are completely free to use with no account required for core functionality.
- Do my files leave my device?
- Browser document operations run locally, except where the operation uses an external service, such as AI summarisation. Read the processing note before using sensitive inputs.
- Is the Redact PDF pages tool safe to use?
- Local operations process document content on your device. External-service operations may send inputs as described in the processing note. Keep originals and inspect the output.
- What is the difference between redacting and drawing a black box over text?
- Drawing a black box is a visual overlay — the text underneath can still be selected, copied, or viewed by removing the shape. Redaction permanently deletes the underlying content and replaces it with a filled rectangle in the content stream, making recovery impossible.
- Can redacted text be recovered by anyone?
- No — true PDF redaction removes the content from the file's binary data. There is no 'undo' option and no way to recover redacted content from the output PDF.
- Can I redact images within a PDF (e.g., a photograph)?
- Yes — you can draw redaction boxes over any area of the page, including image regions. The image data in the redacted area is replaced with a solid fill.
- Does this tool redact metadata (document author, creation date)?
- This tool redacts visible page content. For metadata, use the Edit PDF tool or a dedicated PDF metadata editor to remove document properties such as author, title, and subject.
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