FREE TOOL · ON YOUR DEVICE
Redact PDF free with permanent removal
Mark the data you want removed. Output rebuilds all pages as images and paints the selected areas black: original text, attachments, links, layers and metadata are not copied. Searchable text and forms are lost.
- Areas removed
- No original objects
- Up to 40 pages
- Choose the PDF
- Mark every area
- Process and verify
HOW TO USE IT
Three steps.
Choose the PDF
Load the file and inspect every page containing data that must be removed.
Mark every area
Drag a rectangle over each item. Remove areas and switch pages before processing if needed.
Process and verify
Inspect the complete result and download a copy. Changing an area requires processing again. Keep the original separately only if needed.
NEXT STEP
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Redact PDF: common questions
Can the text behind black areas be recovered?
The new output does not retain original PDF objects. Each page is rasterised and those pixels are replaced with black before the PDF is created. Check that the area covers the entire item: visible content outside marked areas remains.
What happens to hidden content and metadata?
Output is built from scratch; hidden text, layers, forms, attachments and original metadata are not copied. All pages become images, including pages with no marked areas.
Are quality and search lost?
Yes. Pages are rasterised at 144 dpi with limits of 8 million pixels and 4500 pixels per side. Searchable text, links and editable fields are lost. Redaction here does not preserve the original structure.
Is it free and where is the PDF processed?
You can load and process the PDF before signing up; to download it, we ask for a free account. That account comes with 30 welcome uses; after that, each use costs 1 credit. PDFs and passwords are processed on your device; only the session is checked and local Cocuyo engines are downloaded.
What are the limits?
PDFs up to 50 MB and 40 pages. Output is limited to 100 MB. You can cancel processing; device memory and speed may limit complex files.
What happens to signed or encrypted PDFs?
Always keep the original. PDFs with existing digital signatures and XFA forms are not modified. For an encrypted PDF, use Unlock PDF with a known password and permission to do so.
Are my PDFs uploaded to a server?
No. The tool runs inside your browser: documents are read and processed on your device and are not sent to Cocuyo or to any third party. The PDF libraries are served from our own site, with no external services. You can check it in your browser’s network tools: your file is not sent.
Is it really free?
Yes. You can try it before signing up; to download the result we ask for a free account, with no subscription. Your free account comes with 30 welcome uses; after that, each use costs 1 credit (top-ups from US$1), and they are unlimited with Basic or Pro. It never adds a watermark.
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