Check PDF Redaction
Drop any PDF to see whether its black boxes really removed the text, and what else the file still holds. Fix it in one click.
Free · runs in your browser · nothing is uploaded
This free PDF redaction check shows whether text you meant to remove is still hiding in your file. Drop in any PDF and it lists text that is present but cannot be seen, plus other places information can hide, such as metadata, saved versions and comments. It runs in your browser tab, so nothing is uploaded, and there is no account, no ads and no cookies. Password-protected files work too: enter the password in the box and it stays in the tab. The check works on PDFs made by any tool, including other redaction software.
Fix the file with one click.
How to use the redaction check
- Drop your PDF onto the page.
- If a box asks for a password, type it in. It stays in the tab.
- Wait for the PDF engine to load. It downloads the first time a file is opened, at about 2 MB.
- Read the list of text that is in the file but cannot be seen. Each entry shows the page and an excerpt.
- Click the “p. N” link to view that page with a red frame around the item.
- Check the other lists: saved versions, document properties, XMP, comments, form values, attachments, JavaScript, bookmarks, layers, encryption and page thumbnails.
- Click “Delete the hidden text for real” to redact the found text. The tool rebuilds the file, runs the checks again, then offers the download.
- If you want every page flattened, click “Turn every page into an image”.
- Look at the final result yourself before sharing. A clean result means nothing was found, not a guarantee.
The tool runs in your browser and keeps working with the network switched off after the first load. It never decides what to remove, so review each page before you send the file.
Run the check again on the downloaded file to confirm.
What does it mean to redact a document?
Redacting a document means permanently removing or hiding sensitive information from it. In a PDF, a black box drawn over text is not enough, because the words can stay in the file underneath the shape.
A proper redaction deletes the underlying text, images and metadata, then flattens the page so the result is only what you see. That is the difference between hiding and removing, and it is what this check tests.
Can a redacted document be unredacted?
If the redaction was done properly, the hidden content no longer exists in the file, so there is nothing to recover. Problems arise when the black shape was only drawn on top of the text, or when the text was left in the file in a form that is still readable.
This check looks for exactly those leftovers. When it lists text under a dark shape, the file has not been redacted for real, and that text could be read by anyone who opens the file.
What does a PDF redaction check look for?
The check looks for text that is in the file but cannot be seen, and for other places where information can hide. Each category below is reported separately so you can see what to fix.
| Where information can hide | What the check reports |
|---|---|
| Text under a flat black or dark shape | Text, with page, excerpt and “p. N” link |
| Text in the page colour (white on white) | Text, with page, excerpt and “p. N” link |
| Text under a coloured shape | Text, with page, excerpt and “p. N” link |
| Several saved versions inside the file | Count of end-of-file markers |
| Document properties and XMP | Metadata fields |
| Comments and notes with text | Note text |
| Form values, attachments, JavaScript, open action | Each item listed |
| Bookmarks, accessibility tags, layers | Each item listed |
| Encryption, unused objects, page thumbnails | Each item listed |
The check cannot read words inside images. So a page that shows a scanned name or number needs a manual look, even if the list is empty.
Frequently asked questions
Can a redacted PDF be recovered?
Not when the redaction was done properly. If text is still listed under a shape, it can be recovered by anyone who opens the file.
How to sanitize a PDF?
Sanitizing means removing hidden data such as metadata, hidden text and old versions. Click “Delete the hidden text for real”, then run the check again on the downloaded file.
What Does Unredacted Mean?
Unredacted means a document is shown in full, with nothing blacked out, blurred or removed. A file that still contains hidden text under a shape is effectively unredacted.
How do I uncover blacked out text in a PDF?
Use the check on a PDF you own or are allowed to review. It lists text under a dark shape with its page and excerpt, so you can see what was hidden.
How to redact a bank statement?
Open the statement and check it with this tool first, so you can see where account numbers or names are hidden. Then use Redact PDF to find and delete that text before sharing.
How to redact certain words in PDF?
Use Redact PDF to find and delete the specific words in the PDF. Then open the result in this tool and confirm no copy is left under a shape.
How do I redact a PDF without Adobe?
Open the PDF in this browser tool, click “Delete the hidden text for real”, and download the result. No installed software is needed.
Can I redact a PDF for free?
Yes. The tool is free, needs no account, and runs in your browser. Use Redact PDF if you want to find and delete text in one PDF.
Related tools
- PDF redaction tool: use it to redact a PDF.
- Redact PDF: use it to find and delete text in one PDF.
- Redact PDF on a Mac: use it for Mac steps.
- PDF redaction software: use it to redact many files at once.
- Redact an image: use it to black out part of a photo or screenshot.
- Bates numbering: use it to number pages across files.
- Bates stamp: use it to add CONFIDENTIAL or DRAFT.
- Bates numbering software: use it to number a whole production.
- Compare PDF: use it to see what changed between two versions.
- PDF comparison: use it to compare layout as a picture.