Redact a PDF for free

Black out sensitive information and permanently remove the content underneath, free and in your browser. Nanodoc does not just draw a box over the text: it deletes the underlying content and then re-checks the region to verify the text is actually gone. If a PDF's structure defeats redaction, Nanodoc tells you instead of pretending it worked.

No sign-up required • No watermark • Files never leave your device

How it works

  1. 1

    Open the free editor and load your PDF.

  2. 2

    Select the Redact tool from the toolbar.

  3. 3

    Draw over every region you want removed.

  4. 4

    Apply the redactions. Nanodoc removes the content and verifies the text is gone.

  5. 5

    Download the redacted PDF.

Common questions

Is the redacted text really removed, or just covered up?

Really removed. Drawing a black rectangle over text leaves the text selectable and searchable underneath, which has caused real-world data leaks. Nanodoc applies true redaction that deletes the underlying content, then extracts the text in that region afterward to confirm nothing survived.

What happens if the redaction cannot be applied safely?

Nanodoc warns you. If the verification step finds text still present in a redacted area, you get an error instead of a false sense of security.

Do redacted files get uploaded for processing?

No. Redaction runs locally in your browser or on your device, which matters most for exactly the kind of sensitive documents that need redacting.