Before sending a contract, a statement or a supporting document, hide sensitive information: draw areas or search for text, and that information is actually removed from the file, not just covered up.
How it works
- Select the PDF.
- Draw boxes on the page or search for a text to hide.
- Click “Redact and save”.
Frequently asked questions
Can the hidden text be recovered?
No: redacted pages are converted into images and the hidden text no longer exists in the file.
Is the rest of the text still searchable?
Yes, the unhidden text is kept invisibly on the redacted pages.
How do I hide every occurrence of a name?
Type it in “Automatically hide a text” and click “Hide”: every occurrence is hidden throughout the document, regardless of capitalization or accents.
Can I redact a scanned document?
Yes, by drawing the areas by hand. Automatic search, however, needs real text and shows “Text not found” on a scan.
How do I remove a mask I added by mistake?
Click the mask’s ✕, or “Clear all” to start over.
Are pages without masks changed?
No. Only pages where you drew at least one area are converted into images; the others stay the same.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Everything happens in your browser: your documents never leave your device.
Two ways to hide information
- Manually: click and drag on the page to draw a black rectangle. Move from page to page to hide other areas; the ✕ button removes a mask and “Clear all” removes them all.
- Automatically: type a word or a number in “Automatically hide a text”, then click “Hide”. Every occurrence is hidden throughout the document, regardless of capitalization or accents.
A counter shows how many areas are hidden. Then click “Redact and save” to get the redacted PDF.
True redaction, not just a black box
Placing a black rectangle with an ordinary editor is not enough: the text often remains under the mask and can be copied. PDFRoll converts each redacted page into an image with the masks built in: the hidden text truly disappears from the file.
The rest of the text on those pages is kept invisibly, so it can still be searched. Pages without masks are kept as they are.
Examples of information to redact
- Social security number, IBAN or account number on a supporting document.
- Amounts, salary or address on a document sent for a rental application.
- People’s names in a document shared publicly or circulated internally.
- Signatures and contact details on a copy of a contract.
The document stays on your device throughout processing, which makes it suitable for the most confidential files.
Tips and limitations
- Automatic search only works on real text: in a scanned document, draw the areas by hand.
- Check every page before saving: a variation in how something is written (spaces in a number, for example) can slip past the search.
- To prevent the whole document from being opened rather than hiding part of it, use “Protect PDF”.