Redact PDF — remove text for good
Drawing a black rectangle over a name or account number does not hide it: the text is still in the file, and anyone can copy it out or remove the box. DMI's Redact PDF tool removes it for real. Search for words, numbers or phrases, or drag boxes over the page, and the tool deletes the characters, the covered parts of images and drawings, and any comments or form fields under each box, then draws a solid box in their place. It checks that nothing readable is left under the boxes and refuses to save if anything is, and it saves a fully rewritten file with no earlier versions inside. You can also remove the document title, author and other metadata. The redaction engine is open-source Rust code (from the PdfCraft project) compiled to WebAssembly and runs entirely in your browser, so your document is never uploaded to a server. Scanned pages are images: search cannot find their words, so draw boxes over them instead.
How it works
- Add the PDF you want to redact.
- Type words to find (one per line) or drag boxes over the parts to remove.
- Click Redact PDF to download the redacted copy. Check it before you share it.
Frequently asked questions
Is redacting a PDF free?
Yes, redacting a PDF with DMI is completely free, with no signup, no watermark and no limit on how many files you redact.
Are my files private?
Yes. Redaction happens entirely in your browser, so your PDF is never uploaded to a server. We log usage metadata, including your IP address, tool name, filename, and file size, for up to 12 months to help prevent abuse, but never the file contents or the words you search for.
Is the redacted text really gone?
Yes. The characters under each box are deleted from the page, not just covered, and covered image and drawing areas are erased. The tool then checks the result and refuses to save if anything under a box can still be read, and it searches the new file again for your words. Redaction cannot be undone, so keep your original file, and the tool does not search bookmarks or attachments (use Sanitize PDF to remove those).