Redacting a PDF means removing sensitive information — names, account numbers, medical details, case references — so it cannot be recovered. Drawing a black box over text is not the same thing. The box sits on top of the text; the text underneath can still be selected, copied, or pulled out with a simple extraction script.
WorkWithPDF's Redact tool currently does the second thing: it draws black boxes, and it does not yet remove the text underneath. That makes it useful as a quick visual cover — for example, for a printout or a screen share — but it is not true redaction. This guide shows how to use it, how to check the result, and when you need a dedicated redaction tool instead.
The tool runs in your browser, so your file is not uploaded to our servers. That is a real benefit when you are handling sensitive documents, but it does not change what the output file contains.
How to Redact a PDF in 5 Steps
Step 1 — Open the redaction tool
Go to the redact tool. It's free and needs no account. The tool runs in your browser.
Step 2 — Load your file (locally)
Click the drop zone to open your PDF. The file is loaded into your browser's memory and is not uploaded to our servers. You can confirm this in DevTools: no request contains your file.
Step 3 — Mark content for redaction
Choose the kinds of information to look for — email addresses, phone numbers, card and bank numbers, ID numbers, dates, and more, or a custom keyword such as a name — and click Scan for PII. The scan reads the PDF's text layer, so it won't find anything on scanned pages that have no text layer. Review the matches and tick the ones you want covered.
You can also add a box by hand: enter the page number and the box's position and size as percentages of the page.
Step 4 — Apply redactions
Click Apply redactions. The tool draws solid black boxes over the selected areas and creates a new PDF. The text underneath is not removed, so don't skip the next step.
Step 5 — Download and check the result
Download the file and open it in your usual PDF viewer. Try selecting the text under a black box, or search for a word you covered. If you can select or find it, so can anyone you send the file to. For documents where that matters, use a dedicated redaction tool.
For a low-stakes document, one workaround is to turn the covered pages into images with PDF to JPG and back into a PDF with JPG to PDF. The new file contains only pictures of the pages, so the covered text is no longer in it — but neither is any other selectable text, and you should still check the result before sharing.
The Difference Between Redaction and Covering Text
This distinction matters legally and practically.
Covering text (not redaction):
- Drawing a black rectangle or annotation over text
- The PDF data layer retains every character beneath the overlay
- The text remains accessible: select it, copy it, or pull it out with any extraction script
- Government filings and court documents have leaked this way repeatedly
- This is what WorkWithPDF's Redact tool does today
True redaction:
- The text data is removed from the PDF structure
- No underlying content to recover
- The space where the content was is replaced with a black area
- Cannot be reversed
WorkWithPDF does not perform true redaction yet. When you need it, use a dedicated tool — for example, the Redact tool in Adobe Acrobat Pro — and still check the output before you share it.
Who Needs PDF Redaction
Legal professionals — Client names, case numbers, privileged communications, witness details, and settlement amounts must be redacted before sharing documents externally.
Healthcare workers — Patient names, diagnoses, insurance IDs, and dates of birth in medical records. Rules such as HIPAA require this data to be protected.
Finance and accounting — Account numbers, social security numbers, salary data, and internal projections in financial statements shared with auditors or counterparties.
HR teams — Compensation figures, performance review details, and personal information in employment records.
Government and public sector — PII, classified references, and law enforcement details in FOIA responses and public filings.
In every one of these cases, the redaction has to remove the underlying content. Use WorkWithPDF's tool for a quick visual cover on low-stakes documents, and a dedicated redaction tool for anything you send out.
Redact PDF: Tool Comparison
| Feature | WorkWithPDF | Adobe Acrobat Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Removes the text under the box | Not yet — visual cover only | Yes (Redact tool) |
| Files uploaded to a server | No — processed in your browser | No — desktop app |
| Cost | Free, no account | Paid subscription |
| Best for | Quick visual cover on low-stakes documents | Documents that need true redaction |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this redaction permanent?
Not yet. WorkWithPDF's Redact tool draws solid black boxes over the areas you choose, but the text underneath is not removed from the file. Anyone who receives the PDF may be able to select, copy, search, or extract the covered text. Treat it as a visual cover only.
Can someone recover the redacted text from the file I send them?
Yes, potentially. Because the underlying text is still in the file, it can be copied or pulled out with a text extraction tool. If that would be a problem, use a dedicated redaction tool that removes the content, and check the result before you share it.
How do I check whether a redaction worked?
Open the redacted PDF in your usual viewer, then try to select the text under a black box, or search for a word you covered. If you can select or find it, so can anyone you send the file to.
Does WorkWithPDF send my file to a server?
No. Your file is processed in your browser and is not uploaded to our servers. You can verify this in browser DevTools — no request contains your file. The result is also saved in your browser's storage on your device until you clear the workspace.
Is this tool HIPAA-compliant?
We don't make that claim. Processing in the browser means your file isn't sent to us, but the tool does not remove the text under its boxes, so on its own it is not suitable for redacting protected health information. Use a dedicated redaction tool and follow your organisation's compliance guidance.
Can I cover images and not just text?
Yes. You can draw a box over any area of a page — text, images, signatures, or stamps — and the box will cover it visually. As with text, the covered content is not removed from the file.
What if I cover the wrong area?
Your original file is never changed — the tool creates a new PDF. Adjust your selections and run it again on the original.
Try It Now
Free, no account. Processed in your browser. Check the result before you share it.
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