How to Redact a PDF

PDFs are a popular file format for sharing documents, but sometimes you need to redact sensitive information from them before sharing. Redaction is the process of permanently removing or obscuring confidential or sensitive information from a document. In this article, we’ll show you how to redact a PDF using various methods, including how to redact a PDF for free, how to redact a PDF without Adobe Pro, and more.

Table of Contents

How to Redact a PDF Free

If you need to redact a PDF but don’t want to spend money on expensive software, there are several free options available online. In this section, we’ll show you how to redact a PDF for free using two popular online tools: PDF Candy and SmallPDF.

PDF Candy

PDF Candy is a free online tool that allows you to edit and convert PDFs. Here’s how to redact a PDF using PDF Candy:

Go to the PDF Candy website and select the “Add File” button to upload your PDF.
Select the “Redact” tool from the list of available tools.
Use the tool to select the text or image you want to redact. You can also choose to redact an entire page.
Once you’ve selected the content you want to redact, click the “Apply” button.
Save the redacted PDF to your computer.

SmallPDF

SmallPDF is another free online tool that allows you to edit and convert PDFs. Here’s how to redact a PDF using SmallPDF:

Go to the SmallPDF website and select the “Drag & Drop PDF here” button to upload your PDF.
Select the “Protect PDF” tool from the list of available tools.
Select the “Redact” option.
Use the tool to select the text or image you want to redact. You can also choose to redact an entire page.
Once you’ve selected the content you want to redact, click the “Apply changes” button.
Save the redacted PDF to your computer.

Both PDF Candy and SmallPDF offer a range of other editing tools, so you can customize your PDF as needed.

While these online tools are free and convenient, it’s important to note that they may not be as secure as paid software. If you’re working with highly sensitive information, you may want to consider investing in a more secure solution.

Now that you know how to redact a PDF for free, let’s explore how to do it without Adobe Pro.

How to Redact a PDF Without Adobe Pro

If you don’t have access to Adobe Pro, you may be wondering how to redact a PDF. Fortunately, there are several free and paid alternatives available. In this section, we’ll show you how to redact a PDF using two popular tools: Microsoft Word and PDF-XChange Editor.

Microsoft Word

Believe it or not, you can use Microsoft Word to redact a PDF. Here’s how:

Open Microsoft Word and select “File” > “Open” to open the PDF you want to redact.
Once the PDF is open, select “File” > “Save As” and choose the file type “PDF” from the dropdown menu.
Click “Save” to save the PDF as a Word document.
Now, you can use Word’s formatting tools to black out the text or image you want to redact.
Once you’ve redacted the content, save the document as a PDF.

While this method may not be as precise as Adobe Pro, it’s a free and accessible solution for basic redactions.

PDF-XChange Editor

PDF-XChange Editor is a paid PDF editing software that offers a range of features, including redaction. Here’s how to redact a PDF using PDF-XChange Editor:

Download and install PDF-XChange Editor on your computer.
Open the PDF you want to redact in PDF-XChange Editor.
Select the “Mark for Redaction” tool from the toolbar.
Use the tool to select the text or image you want to redact. You can also choose to redact an entire page.
Once you’ve selected the content you want to redact, click the “Apply Redaction” button.
Save the redacted PDF to your computer.

PDF-XChange Editor offers a free trial, so you can test out the software before committing to a purchase.

Now that you know how to redact a PDF without Adobe Pro, let’s explore how to do it using Adobe Pro.

How to Redact a PDF in Adobe

Adobe Pro is a popular software for editing and redacting PDFs. In this section, we’ll show you how to redact a PDF in Adobe Pro:

Open the PDF in Adobe Pro

First, open the PDF you want to redact in Adobe Pro.

Select the “Redact” tool

Once you’ve opened the PDF, select the “Redact” tool from the right-hand menu.

Select the content you want to redact

Use your mouse to select the text or image you want to redact. You can also choose to redact an entire page.

Apply the redaction

Once you’ve selected the content you want to redact, click the “Apply” button to apply the redaction.

Review the redactions

After applying the redactions, it’s important to review them to make sure they are accurate and complete. You can use the “Redaction Properties” tool to review the redactions.

Save the redacted PDF

Once you’re satisfied with the redactions, save the redacted PDF to your computer.

Redacting a PDF in Adobe Pro is a precise and powerful solution, but it comes with a price tag. If you’re looking for a free alternative, check out the previous section on using Microsoft Word or PDF-XChange Editor.

Next, let’s explore how to redact PDFs on a Mac.

How to Redact PDFs on Mac

If you’re a Mac user, you may be wondering how to redact PDFs on your computer. Fortunately, there are several options available to you. Here’s how to redact PDFs on Mac:

Preview

Preview is a built-in app on Mac that allows you to view and edit PDFs. To redact a PDF in Preview:

Open the PDF in Preview
Select the text or image you want to redact
Go to the “Tools” menu and select “Annotate” > “Rectangle”
Draw a rectangle over the content you want to redact
Go to the “File” menu and select “Export”
Save the redacted PDF to your computer

While Preview is a convenient and free option, it may not provide the same level of precision and control as other tools.

PDFpen

PDFpen is a third-party app for Mac that offers advanced PDF editing features, including redaction. Here’s how to redact a PDF in PDFpen:

Open the PDF in PDFpen
Select the text or image you want to redact
Go to the “Edit” menu and select “Redact”
Choose the type of redaction you want to apply (e.g. text, image, area)
Apply the redaction by clicking and dragging over the content you want to redact
Review the redactions and save the redacted PDF to your computer

PDFpen offers more control and precision than Preview, but it comes with a cost. However, you can download a free trial to see if it meets your needs.

Adobe Acrobat DC

Adobe Acrobat DC is another third-party app that allows you to edit and redact PDFs on Mac. Here’s how to redact a PDF in Adobe Acrobat DC:

Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat DC
Go to the “Tools” menu and select “Redact”
Choose the type of redaction you want to apply (e.g. text, image, pattern)
Click and drag over the content you want to redact
Review the redactions and save the redacted PDF to your computer

Adobe Acrobat DC is a powerful and precise solution for redacting PDFs, but it comes with a subscription fee. However, you can download a free trial to test it out.