How to Redact PDF Online Free — Remove Sensitive Information
Sharing a document but need to hide Aadhaar numbers, bank account details, phone numbers, or other sensitive personal information? PDF Boss permanently redacts any selected area of a PDF — free, no account needed.
How to Redact a PDF in 3 Steps
Step 1 — Open pdfboss.in/redact-pdf
Step 2 — Upload your PDF and draw black boxes over the text or images you want to remove
Step 3 — Click Apply Redactions and download the permanently redacted PDF
The redacted areas are completely removed — the black boxes are not a layer that can be removed.
What Makes a Good Redaction?
A proper redaction must:
1. Remove the underlying text data — Not just paint black on top (which leaves the text selectable underneath)
2. Remove metadata — Ensure the information is not embedded in document properties
3. Cover the full area — Including any whitespace that might reveal partial characters
PDF Boss handles all three automatically when you apply the redaction.
Common Uses in India
- Aadhaar sharing — UIDAI recommends sharing a masked Aadhaar that hides the first 8 digits. Redact them before submitting copies.
- Bank statements — Redact account number and IFSC before sharing statements for verification
- Legal submissions — Court filings require personal information of non-parties to be redacted
- Medical records — HIPAA/privacy guidelines require patient identifiers to be removed before sharing
- HR documents — Remove salary details before sharing general employment verification letters
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the redacted text truly removed or just hidden?
It is permanently removed. The underlying text data is deleted from the PDF — it cannot be recovered by selecting or searching the file.
Can I undo a redaction?
No. Redaction is permanent. Always keep the original file in a secure location before redacting.
Can I redact only the last 4 digits of an Aadhaar number?
Yes. You can draw the redaction box precisely over any portion of text, including part of a number or name.