AccDox: PDF Redact

Hide data in a PDF and record the reason for each redaction

Redaction is real: pages are converted to images, so the hidden text physically does not exist in the file. Your file is never uploaded — everything happens in your browser.

Choose or drop a PDF file here
Up to 20 MB and 100 pages. Your file never leaves your browser.
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Drag with your mouse (or finger) over the text you want to redact. Click an area to select it.

Applies to new areas and to the selected area. The text is fitted into the area automatically.
The note is fitted into the drawn area at an automatic size, with no background. Place it on an empty part of the page and make it large enough to read.
Redactions 0
    Important: The result is a flat PDF without searchable or copyable text. Before sharing it, open the downloaded file and check (Ctrl+A / Ctrl+F) that all data is covered. Verifying the result is your responsibility.

    After redacting you can merge several files into one.

    Merge PDF →

    Need only some pages? Split the PDF file.

    Split PDF →

    Have photos of documents? Turn them into a PDF.

    Image to PDF →

    Add a watermark (e.g. “COPY”) to the redacted document.

    PDF Watermark →

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    No. Reading the PDF, showing the pages, redacting and creating the new file all happen locally in your browser using the pdf.js (display) and pdf-lib (file creation) JavaScript libraries. Your file never leaves your device.

    Because with a plain rectangle the text stays in the file and can still be revealed with Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C or search. Many organizations have leaked data exactly this way. This tool converts every page to an image and draws the areas onto it, so the redacted text does not physically exist in the downloaded file.

    Load the PDF, choose a reason, then drag with your mouse (or finger) over the text you want to hide. Each area gets a number and is added to the list on the right. Click an area to select it; the Delete key or the ✕ button removes it. Ctrl+Z or the Undo button removes the last area.

    Personal data, EGN, LNCh, Phone, Email, Address, Bank information, Medical information, Trade secret, Classified information, Signature and Other. With "Other" a field appears where you type your own reason. "Signature" draws a blank area with no text — suitable for signatures when the reason is stated in a general note. If you change the reason while an area is selected, it changes for that area; otherwise it applies to the next areas you draw.

    Yes. Switch from "Redaction" to "Note", choose a ready-made text (e.g. the reason under the Public Procurement Act and Regulation (EU) 2016/679) or type free text, and draw an area on an empty part of the page. The text is fitted into the area at an automatically chosen size, with no background. You can edit the text of a ready-made note. If it does not fit and would be unreadable, the area is marked yellow and the export asks you to enlarge it.

    The font size is chosen automatically to fit the area — a larger area gets larger text, and long text wraps onto several lines. If the area is too small and the text would be unreadable, only its number ([1], [2]…) is written in it, and the reasons for those areas are listed on an extra "Appendix" page at the end of the file. In the preview such areas have a yellow dashed outline.

    Yes, you can choose between "Dark gray" (default) and "Gray". The color applies to all areas in the document.

    No. The result is a "flat" PDF made of images with no text layer — that is exactly why the redaction is secure. As a consequence, the rest of the text in the document cannot be searched or copied either. Before sharing the file, open it and check with Ctrl+A / Ctrl+F that nothing can be copied and all data is covered.

    Because pages are converted to images, the file is usually larger than the original. "Standard (150 DPI)" is fine for reading and printing documents, while "High (200 DPI)" gives sharper text at the cost of a larger file and longer processing.

    Yes. Since the tool works with the image of the page, it does not matter whether the document was created digitally or scanned — areas are drawn manually in both cases.

    No. Password-protected and damaged files cannot be read. Remove the protection in the program you created the file with and try again.

    Use the zoom buttons above the page to enlarge up to 300%; the percentage button returns to fit-width. When you zoom, the page is re-rendered at a higher resolution, so it stays sharp. On a phone, switch to "Pan" mode to scroll with your finger and back to "Draw" to mark areas.

    Yes — up to 20 MB and up to 100 pages. Pages are processed one at a time to save memory, but very large or heavy documents on weaker phones may take a while. In that case choose "Standard" quality or split the file with PDF Split.

    No. The new file is created from scratch — only the visible content of the pages is carried over, as an image. Author, title, hidden layers, attachments and other internal information from the original are not copied.

    No. The tool helps you technically to hide data and record the reason, but it does not decide for you what must be redacted. Identifying the data and checking the result is your responsibility. Keep the original somewhere safe — the redaction in the downloaded file cannot be undone.