Redact PDF
Black out sensitive information — and actually remove it — right in your browser, with nothing uploaded.
Drop your PDF hereTap to add your PDF
or click to choose · nothing leaves your device
Draw black boxes over anything sensitive. On download, redacted pages are flattened so the content underneath is permanently removed — not just hidden.
Private by design. This tool runs entirely in your browser — your file is processed on your device and is never uploaded to us. How this works
Redact PDF covers sensitive text and images with black boxes — and, crucially, removes what’s underneath. On download, every page you’ve redacted is flattened to an image with the black boxes burned in, so the original text and data below them are permanently gone — not just hidden behind a rectangle that can be copied out.
It runs entirely in your browser, so your confidential document is never uploaded. Private, free, with no account and no watermark.
How it works
Draw a black box over anything you want gone. When you download, Ream re-renders each redacted page as a flat image with the boxes drawn on top, then rebuilds the PDF from those images — so the text and pictures beneath the boxes no longer exist in the file. Pages you didn’t touch are kept exactly as they were.
How to Redact PDF
Add your PDF
Drop it onto the editor above — it opens straight away, with nothing uploaded.
Black out what’s sensitive
Draw black boxes over any text or images you want removed, on any page.
Download the redacted PDF
The content under the boxes is removed as the page is flattened.
Redaction that actually removes the content
This is the part that matters. In many tools, drawing a black rectangle only covers the text — the words are still in the file and can be copied out or revealed. Ream avoids that trap: any page with a redaction is flattened to an image on download, so the underlying text, form fields and metadata on that page are discarded. What’s under the black box is gone for good.
Tips for safe redaction
- Cover the whole item. Extend each box a little past the text so nothing peeks out at the edges.
- Check every page. Use the page arrows and redact wherever sensitive data appears.
- Keep your original. Redaction is one-way — the downloaded copy has the content removed, so store the source separately if you may still need it.
When you’ll use it
- Removing names, addresses or account numbers before sharing.
- Redacting legal or medical documents.
- Blacking out salaries or prices in a report.
- Preparing a document for public release.
Why choose Ream
Content truly removed
Redacted pages are flattened to an image, so the text and data under the black boxes are gone — not just covered.
Private by design
Everything runs in your browser. Your confidential PDF is never uploaded.
Page by page
Step through the whole document and black out sensitive content wherever it appears.
Free, no watermark
No account, no watermark, no limits.
Frequently asked questions
How do I redact a PDF?
Open the PDF, draw black boxes over anything sensitive, and download. The content under the boxes is removed as the page is flattened.
Does it really remove the text, or just cover it?
It really removes it. Any redacted page is flattened to an image on download, so the text and data underneath are discarded — they can’t be copied out or revealed.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. Redaction runs entirely in your browser — the document never leaves your device.
Can the redacted content be recovered?
No. When a redacted page is flattened, the underlying content is gone from the file for good.
Do the pages I didn’t redact change?
No — pages without any redaction are kept exactly as they were, with their text intact.
Should I also remove the metadata?
Redacted pages lose their hidden data when flattened. For the rest of the file, run Remove Metadata as well.
Is it free, with no watermark?
Yes — free, no sign-up, and no watermark.