# Black out private text in a PDF, permanently

> Type a word to box every match, or drag boxes over anything else. The saved copy has no text under the boxes.

Black out names, numbers or emails in a PDF so the text is removed, not just covered. Runs in your browser; the PDF is never uploaded. Free.

- Tool: [Redact PDF](https://fixmint.cc/redact-pdf)
- Category: [PDF](https://fixmint.cc/pdf)
- Fixes: Hide private text in a PDF
- Runs in the browser: files and text stay on the device, no sign-up, free.

## How to redact a PDF

1. Drop the PDF onto the box.
2. Type a word, number or email to box each match, or drag boxes over the rest. Drag a box to move it, its corner to resize it, or use its cross to remove it.
3. Pick the box colour and the resolution, then save the redacted PDF.

## Questions

### Is the text really removed?

Yes, on every page that has a box. Those pages are saved as pictures of what you see, so the text under the boxes is not in the new file. Pages without boxes are copied unchanged, so any text on them stays.

### Why are some pages saved as images?

A black box laid over text leaves the text in the file, where it can still be copied out. Saving the page as a picture removes the text. The trade-off is that text on those pages can no longer be selected or searched.

### Does it work on scanned PDFs?

Only by hand. A scanned page is a picture with no text in it, so there is nothing to find. Drag boxes over the parts you want to hide.

### Are the document details removed?

Yes. The title, author, subject, keywords, creator and producer are cleared. The new file keeps only the pages, so bookmarks, attachments and form settings are not carried over.

## Related tools

- [Fill & edit PDF](https://fixmint.cc/edit-pdf): Need to fill in a PDF form
- [Redact image](https://fixmint.cc/redact-image): Hide info in a screenshot
- [Compress PDF](https://fixmint.cc/compress-pdf): PDF too big to email or upload
- [PDF to text](https://fixmint.cc/pdf-to-text): Need the text out of a PDF