Redact PDF Online — Permanently Black Out Whole Pages (Free & Secure)
Choose pages to permanently and irreversibly black out, while keeping the rest of the document and its page numbering untouched. Fast, simple and free.
What Is This Tool?
Redact PDF permanently blacks out entire pages you choose — it does not let you black out a small area or a few lines of text on a page; for that, use image-editing software before uploading, or contact us. Redacting a page here completely and irreversibly replaces its content: the page is rebuilt from scratch as a solid black page, so none of the original text, images, or metadata on that page can be recovered from the output file.
Unlike deleting a page, redacting one keeps the total page count and every other page's numbering exactly as it was — useful when a document's page numbers matter, such as a legal filing, but a specific page (an exhibit, an ID scan, a signature) needs to be permanently hidden rather than removed.
Everything runs on our servers over a secure connection; your files are processed, made available for download, and then automatically deleted a short time later.
Why Redact Whole Pages From a PDF?
Some pages in a document need to be permanently hidden without disturbing the rest of the file's structure — a scanned ID, a signature page, a confidential exhibit. Simply covering content with a black box in a PDF viewer doesn't remove the underlying data; anyone can select or extract the text and images hidden underneath. True redaction has to remove the original content entirely, not just draw over it.
Benefits of Redacting PDF Pages
- Genuinely removes the page's content — not a visual overlay
- Keeps the page count and numbering of the rest of the document unchanged
- Redact one page or several in a single pass
- No desktop software needed
Who Can Use This Tool?
- Legal teams filing documents that must retain their original page numbering
- Anyone who scanned an ID or signature page into a larger document by mistake
- Businesses removing a confidential exhibit before wider distribution
- HR and compliance teams handling sensitive scanned records
A Few Real-World Examples
- A paralegal can redact a page containing a witness's signature before filing a court exhibit, keeping every other page's number intact.
- An HR coordinator can black out a scanned ID page bundled into a new-hire packet before archiving it.
- A business can redact a confidential pricing exhibit from a larger proposal before sending it to a wider audience.
- A records manager can permanently black out an outdated confidential memo page while keeping the rest of the archive's numbering consistent.
Step-by-Step Guide
Upload the PDF you want to redact.
Enter the pages or ranges to black out.
Click "Redact PDF".
Download your redacted PDF.
Entering Page Numbers
Use commas for single pages and hyphens for ranges: 1,3,5-7 blacks out pages 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7. Every other page is left completely untouched.
Important: This redacts entire pages only — not areas or lines of text within a page. If you need to hide a small part of a page rather than the whole page, use image-editing software before uploading, or contact us. Redaction here is permanent and irreversible: once processed, the original page content cannot be recovered from the output file, even by us.
What You'll Get
The output is a new PDF with the same total page count as your original — the pages you selected are replaced with solid black pages, and every other page keeps its original content and position. Your original upload is never changed; only a new, redacted copy is created for you to download.
Comparison: Redact vs. Delete
| Tool | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Redact Pages | Permanently blacks out the pages you select; page count and numbering stay the same. | Hiding a page's content while a document's page numbering must stay intact, e.g. a legal filing. |
| Delete Pages | Removes the pages you select entirely; remaining pages renumber. | Cutting pages out of a document where renumbering doesn't matter. |
Features
- Free
- Easy to use
- No registration
- Redact single pages or ranges
- Secure processing — files are deleted automatically
Supported Formats
Best Practices
- Double-check page numbers before redacting — this action is permanent and cannot be undone.
- Keep a copy of your original file elsewhere if you might need the redacted content again later.
- Need to hide only part of a page, not the whole thing? Use image-editing software before uploading instead.
- Download and open the result to confirm the correct pages were redacted.
Troubleshooting
Problem: I need to black out only part of a page, not the whole page
Solution: This tool only redacts entire pages. For partial redaction — covering a small area or a few lines of text — use image-editing software before uploading, or contact us.
Problem: I get an error saying I can't redact every page
Solution: At least one page must remain unredacted. If you want to black out the entire document, delete it instead rather than redacting every page.
Problem: The file won't upload
Solution: Ensure your file is under 50 MB and is a valid PDF. Try a different browser, or compress the file first with our Compress PDF tool.
Redact PDF FAQ
Is redacting PDF pages really free?
Yes. Redact PDF is completely free, with no sign-up, watermark, or hidden limits beyond the file size shown above.
Can I redact just part of a page, like a paragraph or a signature line?
No — this tool only blacks out whole pages. For partial, area-based redaction, use image-editing software before uploading, or contact us.
Is the redaction actually permanent, or just a black box on top?
It's permanent. Each redacted page is entirely rebuilt as a new, blank black page — the original text, images, and metadata on that page are not carried over into the output file, so there's nothing left to recover or extract from underneath.
Does redacting a page change the document's page count or numbering?
No. Redacted pages stay in place as solid black pages — the total page count and the position of every other page remain exactly as they were.
Can I redact every page in the document?
No — at least one page must remain unredacted. If you want to black out the whole document, delete it instead.
Will my file be kept after processing?
No. Both your uploaded file and the redacted result are automatically deleted from our servers a short time after processing.
Is it safe to use this regularly for confidential documents?
Yes. Every file is transferred over an encrypted connection and processed in an isolated job folder that only your job can access, then automatically deleted — the same protections apply whether you redact one page or use the tool daily.
Does this work on mobile?
Yes, Redact PDF works in any modern mobile or desktop browser — no app required.
Privacy & Security
Your files are handled securely
All uploads are transferred over an encrypted SSL/TLS connection and processed in an isolated job folder. No one at PDFCherry views, shares, or uses the content of your documents for anything other than completing the redaction you requested.
- Uploaded files are automatically deleted within 30 minutes.
- Redacted results are automatically deleted within 1 hour after completion.
- Your original file is never modified — redaction always produces a new, separate output file; the PDF you uploaded is read, not altered.
Read our full Privacy Policy or Contact Us if you have any questions about how your files are handled.
Why Trust PDFCherry?
PDFCherry is built and maintained by a small, dedicated team and runs on established, industry-standard PDF libraries — not an anonymous "free tool" that resells your files or data. The privacy practices above apply across the whole site. More about PDFCherry.
Having issues or need help? Contact Us — we're here to help.
Ready to Redact Your PDF?
It's free, secure, and takes just a few seconds. Upload your file and black out the pages you need to now!
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