Redact PDF
Black out account numbers, addresses and other details for good
At a glance
- Black out account numbers, addresses and other details for good.
- Accepted input: .pdf.
- Output: downloadable file generated in-browser for supported workflows.
- Upload Choose your file
- Process Runs locally
- Download Save result
Drop your file here
or tap to browse · accepts .pdf
Runs in your browser. No file uploads for supported tools.
Best on desktop for 100MB+ files · mobile recommended under ~100MB.
How local processing works
- Your PDF is processed in your browser using local JavaScript libraries.
- PDFWhisk does not upload your file to a processing server for supported tools.
- Only normal page assets load from the site (HTML/CSS/JS), not your document contents.
Selected files
Page preview
Processing
0%Preparing your file
That didn’t work
Done. Ready to download
Support: contact form (reply in ~24h)
Security & privacy detailsHow this tool helps
Bank statements and payslips sent for a tenancy, a mortgage or a benefits claim often carry more than the recipient needs: full account numbers, other people's names, your address or spending you would rather not share. Draw a black box over each detail on the page preview, with a mouse or a finger. When you tap Redact and download, every page that has a box is turned into an image with the boxes painted on as solid black, so the text, numbers and pictures under them are not in the new file at all and can't be copied, searched or uncovered. Pages without a box are copied across unchanged, and the document's title, author and other details are not carried over. Everything happens in your browser; the PDF is never uploaded. Use it when you need to delete pages, protect pdf, compress pdf.
Best for
How it works
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1
Add your PDF
Tap the upload area and choose the statement, payslip or letter. The first page appears with Prev and Next to move between pages.
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2
Draw the boxes
Drag across each detail you want hidden; a black box appears. Tap a box's × to remove it, or use Undo last box or Clear this page.
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3
Redact and download
Tap Redact and download. Pages with boxes become images, the rest are unchanged. Open the copy and check every box before you send it.
More files today? Free covers 2 tasks a day and files up to 50MB. For unlimited tasks and bigger files, Pro passes start at £1.29 for 24 hours. See Pro options → One-off payment, no subscription, and your files still stay on your device.
Redacting a statement or payslip before you send it
Letting agents, lenders and benefit offices ask for statements and payslips as proof, and the PDF your bank or employer gives you shows far more than they need. These notes cover what this tool removes, what it keeps, and how to check the copy.
Why a drawn black box isn't always redaction
Many PDF editors add a black shape on top of the page and leave the text underneath in the file. Anyone can select it, copy it or move the shape. This tool doesn't overlay anything: each page with a box is redrawn as an image with the box painted in, and the original page content is left out of the new file. That is why those pages lose their selectable text.
Drawing the boxes
Drag from one corner of the detail to the opposite corner. Each box shows a × to remove it; Undo last box takes back the most recent box on any page, and Clear this page removes all boxes on the page shown. The page label shows how many boxes the page shown has, and the panel beside the preview counts the total. Draw a little wider than the text so the edges of tall letters are covered.
What the redacted copy contains
Redacted pages are images at about 180 DPI, the same size in points as the original, so they print at actual size. Pages without boxes are copied unchanged. The file's title, author, keywords, bookmarks and XMP metadata are not copied, and the file name ends in -redacted.pdf. Your original stays on your device as it was.
Statements with a password
Some bank PDFs open without a password but carry restrictions; those load normally. If a PDF asks for a password to open, unlock it first with Unlock PDF and its password, redact it, then use Protect PDF if the copy should have a password again.
Whole pages you don't need
If an entire page is irrelevant, such as terms and conditions or a month the recipient didn't ask for, delete it rather than covering it in black. Delete Pages removes it completely and keeps the remaining pages' text intact.
Before you upload/share
- Open the redacted copy, zoom in on every box, and try selecting text there: nothing should be selectable.
- Check the recipient still has what they asked for, such as your name, the dates and the income.
- Send the redacted copy, not the original, and keep the original somewhere private.
Frequently asked questions
Is the text under the black box really removed?
Yes. A page with a box is rebuilt as a picture of the page with solid black painted over each box, and only that picture goes into the new PDF. The original text, numbers and images on that page are not in the file, so selecting, copying, searching or moving the box can't reveal them. A black rectangle drawn in an ordinary PDF editor is different: it often sits on top of text that is still there.
What happens to the pages I don't redact?
They are copied into the new PDF unchanged, so their text stays selectable and searchable and they look exactly as before. Only pages with at least one box become images.
Why can't I select the text on a redacted page any more?
Because the whole page is now an image. That is what guarantees the hidden details are gone. The page still reads normally and prints at its original size; it just has no text layer. If the recipient needs to copy figures from that page, they will have to type them.
Does it remove the PDF's hidden details too?
The new file is built from scratch, so the original's title, author, subject, keywords, bookmarks and XMP metadata are not copied. On redacted pages, comments and form fields are flattened into the image. Pages you didn't redact keep their content as it was, although form fields on them may no longer be fillable in the copy.
What should I redact on a bank statement?
Only what the recipient doesn't need. A letting agent or lender usually wants to see your name, the bank, the dates and your income, so ask them before hiding those. Common choices are all but the last four digits of the account number, payees' names, and transactions unrelated to what you are proving. Some organisations refuse heavily redacted statements, so check what they accept first.
Can I redact on a phone?
Yes. Drag your finger across the detail to draw a box; the page preview fills the width of the screen, and Prev and Next move between pages. Zoom the page with two fingers outside the preview if you need to see small print first.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The PDF is read, redacted and saved inside your browser tab. The page sends only a free-task counter and anonymous usage events (the tool name, never file names or contents). Free use covers files up to 50MB and 2 tasks a day.
What to do next
Chain tools together for a complete workflow.