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PDF Redactor - Black Out Sensitive Information

Important: This tool draws opaque black rectangles over selected areas. It does not remove the underlying text from the PDF's internal data structure. For maximum security, after downloading, open the file and use Print to PDF to flatten it, or use a dedicated redaction tool such as Adobe Acrobat Pro.

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Bank statement, contract, or any PDF to redact

When sharing a bank statement with a landlord, lender, or solicitor, you may need to hide specific transactions that are not relevant. This tool lets you drag black boxes over any part of any page in a PDF - covering sensitive rows, account numbers, or personal details. Add as many redaction boxes as needed across all pages, then download the redacted PDF in one click. Runs entirely in your browser - your financial documents never leave your device.

No signupRuns in your browserFormula explained belowGeneral information only
This tool draws opaque black rectangles on the PDF page as a content layer. It does not remove the underlying text or data from the PDF's internal structure. A determined person with a PDF editor may be able to access content beneath the black boxes. For maximum security, after redacting, print the PDF to a new PDF (File > Print > Save as PDF) to flatten all layers, or use a dedicated redaction tool such as Adobe Acrobat Pro.

How to use this tool

  1. 1Upload the PDF you need to redact. Bank statements, contracts, and any PDF are supported.
  2. 2Navigate to the page containing the content you want to hide using the page arrows (if the PDF has multiple pages).
  3. 3Drag on the PDF page to draw a black box over the area to redact. The box appears immediately as a solid black rectangle.
  4. 4Hover over any placed box and click the X to remove it. Use 'Clear page' to remove all boxes from the current page, or 'Clear all' to start fresh.
  5. 5Add boxes across as many pages as needed. When finished, click 'Download redacted PDF' to save the document.

Example

Sharing a bank statement with a letting agent

3-month bank statement. Transactions to redact: salary deposits (showing employer), direct debit to a gambling service, large cash withdrawals. Draw boxes over those rows on each page. The landlord sees income, outgoings, and balance - without the sensitive specifics. Download and send.

Sharing a contract with a third party

A service agreement contains the fee amount and payment schedule which are commercially sensitive. Before sharing with a subcontractor, black out the fee row and bank details section. The subcontractor sees the scope of work and obligations without the financial terms.

Common use cases

  • Tenants sharing 3 months of bank statements with a letting agent or landlord as part of a rental application
  • Loan applicants providing bank statements to a lender but needing to hide unrelated personal transactions
  • HR teams sharing redacted employment contracts with auditors or legal reviewers
  • Solicitors and legal professionals removing confidential clauses before sharing a document with a third party
  • Anyone who needs to share a PDF but wants to remove specific rows, account numbers, or personal references

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the underlying text is permanently deleted - this tool draws a black overlay. The original text may still exist in the PDF's internal structure. For security-critical redaction, flatten the PDF by printing to a new PDF after downloading.
  • Redacting too little - a recipient may be able to infer the hidden content from context. Ensure you black out not just the sensitive value but also any nearby labels or references that identify it.
  • Not checking all pages - multi-page PDFs often repeat headers with account numbers or personal details on every page. Navigate each page and check for content that needs redacting.
  • Downloading before finishing - once you download and close the browser tab, your redaction boxes are not saved. Complete all redactions for the entire document before downloading.

Frequently asked questions

Is the text truly deleted from the PDF?

No. This tool draws black rectangles on the PDF page as a visible content layer. The underlying text in the PDF's internal structure may still be accessible using a PDF editor or text extraction tool. For maximum security, after downloading, open the file and print it to a new PDF (File > Print > Save as PDF) to flatten all layers.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. All processing happens in your browser using pdfjs-dist (for rendering) and pdf-lib (for embedding the redaction boxes). Your PDF never leaves your device.

Can I redact across multiple pages?

Yes. Navigate between pages using the arrows and draw redaction boxes on each page. All boxes across all pages are saved and embedded into the downloaded PDF together.

Can I undo a redaction box?

Yes. Hover over any placed box and click the X that appears to remove it. Use 'Clear page' to remove all boxes on the current page, or 'Clear all' to start from scratch.

Does this work on scanned PDFs?

Yes. Scanned PDFs are image-based, which means the text is embedded in image layers. The redaction boxes work the same way - a black rectangle is drawn over the selected area on each page.

Can I use this for bank statements specifically?

Yes. This tool is commonly used for bank statements. Upload the statement, navigate to each page, and drag over the transactions or amounts you want to hide. The letting agent or lender will see the document with black boxes where those items were.

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