Auto redact personal information in a PDF
Auto redact a PDF by scanning selectable text for common personal identifiers, reviewing each match and exporting a rasterized copy with selected areas covered. Free to use, with no sign-up required.
Files processed on your deviceDetection can miss content, especially scans. A selected match may cover nearby words in the same text run. Export turns pages into images and removes the original text layer.
01 How it works
- Choose a PDF with selectable text.
- Review the detected personal information.
- Export a redacted copy and inspect it carefully.
02 Good to know
Detection is pattern based and can miss or misidentify content. A selected match may cover nearby words in the same PDF text run. The export rasterizes every page and removes the original text layer. Check the entire result before sharing it, especially scans and unusual identifiers.
03Review every match before exporting
The scanner looks for common identifier patterns in selectable PDF text and lists the matches for review. Turn off false positives and confirm each mark before creating the redacted copy.
Pattern matching can miss information and can flag ordinary text. Scanned pages and identifiers in unusual formats may not be detected. Run OCR first when the PDF contains page images without selectable text.
04What changes in the redacted copy
Export renders the pages as images and covers the selected regions, removing the original text layer. This can also remove searchable text, links, forms, and other interactive PDF content.
Open the result and inspect every page at normal and enlarged size. Confirm that each intended value is covered and nearby text is still readable before sharing the file.
05 Questions
Does automatic redaction find every personal identifier?
No. Detection is pattern based and can miss identifiers or mark unrelated text. Review the matches and inspect every page of the exported PDF.
Can I redact a scanned PDF?
Scanned pages have no selectable text for the pattern scan. Run OCR first to add a text layer, then review the detected matches carefully.