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Redact PDF

Open your PDF, choose Redact in the editor toolbar, mark text or areas, then apply and download. Applied redactions remove the underlying content from the file.

Click to select a file or drag and drop

PDF file

Your files never leave your device.

About Redact PDF

Redaction marks areas or search results, then applies them so the underlying text and graphics are removed from the page — not merely hidden behind a black box. Qpdf also scrubs matching text from bookmarks, annotations and metadata.

How to use it

  1. Select your PDF, or drag it onto the drop area.
  2. Open the redaction tool in the toolbar. Mark areas, or search for words and mark the results.
  3. Apply all redactions, then download. Qpdf warns you if any marks have not been applied.

Your file stays on your device

This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your file is read from your device, processed in memory, and saved back to your device — it is never uploaded to Qpdf or anyone else. Once this page has loaded, the tool also works with your internet connection switched off.

How Qpdf keeps files private →

Good to know

  • Always verify redactions: open the result, try selecting and searching for the redacted text, and check bookmarks and attachments.
  • Text that is part of an image (such as a scan) is removed only within the marked area. Mark the whole region.
  • Keep the unredacted original somewhere secure; redaction cannot be undone.

Related tools

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Sanitize PDF Remove metadata, scripts, attachments and more.
Remove PDF Metadata Strip author, software and other hidden properties.
Flatten PDF Make form fields and annotations permanent.
Edit PDF Annotate, highlight, comment, add shapes and images.