How to redact a PDF permanently with OnyxPDF
- Drop your PDF into the tool.
- Go through the pages and drag a box over every area that must be removed.
- Review your marks — once saved, redaction cannot be undone.
- Click “Redact & Save” and download the redacted PDF.
Why do it in your browser instead of uploading?
- True removal: the marked page is rebuilt as an image, so no hidden text layer survives underneath — the failure mode that has embarrassed real organisations using black-box “redaction”.
- No upload: the unredacted original — the most sensitive version of the file — never leaves your device.
- Free — iLovePDF keeps Redact behind Premium.
- Unmarked pages stay native, so the rest of the document keeps its selectable text.
Good to know (honest limits)
- Marked pages become images: their remaining text is no longer selectable or searchable. Unmarked pages are untouched.
- Redaction is permanent in the output file. Keep your original somewhere safe if you may need it.
- You must mark every occurrence yourself — names repeated in headers or later pages need their own boxes.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from drawing a black box?
A drawn box sits on top of the text — the text is still in the file and can be copied out. This tool rebuilds the marked page as a flat image with the area destroyed, so there is nothing underneath to recover.
Can redaction be undone?
Not in the saved file — that is the point. The tool warns you before saving; keep the original if you need a reversible workflow.
Can I still select text on pages I did not mark?
Yes. Only marked pages are re-rendered as images; every other page keeps its live text layer.
Is my unredacted file uploaded anywhere?
No — and for redaction that matters most of all. Everything happens in your browser.