BlackbarHow to redact a PDF for free
Open the PDF below, drag a black box over each thing you want hidden, then press Download PDF. It's free, there's no account, and your file stays on your device.
- Stays on your device
- No account
- Nothing saved
Drag over the name, address, phone number and account number. Tap a black box to remove it.
Redact a PDF in three steps
- Choose your PDF, or try the sample letter. Each page opens here in your browser.
- Drag over each name, number or line you want hidden. Every drag makes one black box; tap a box to take it back, or press Undo.
- Press Download PDF. You get a new file named redacted.pdf with the black boxes in it.
The sample letter has four things most people would hide before passing it on: a name, a street address, a phone number with an email, and an account number. That's five boxes on one page, one for each line, and about thirty seconds of dragging.
A US letter page is 8.5 by 11 inches. Blackbar saves it as a picture 1,224 by 1,584 pixels, twice the size it shows at, so small print stays readable. Every page of the new file is a picture with your boxes in it. Look it over before you send it.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. There's no account, no trial and no limit on files or pages. There's nothing to buy on this page.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It runs in the web browser you already have: Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox, on a computer or a phone.
How many pages can I redact?
As many as your device can open. Long files take a little longer to open and to save.
Can I redact more than one file?
Yes. Choose another PDF when you're done and the page starts fresh.