How does PDF redaction work?
Upload files
Select one or more PDFs and check the file list, sizes and validation notes. Duplicates can be kept; failed files can be replaced individually.
Start redaction
Read and confirm the third-party processing notice, then wait for parsing and sensitive-content detection. When AI is unavailable, mark manually as the workbench suggests.
Manual review
Detected results first appear as outlined boxes with the original text still visible. Check page by page, remove false positives, adjust areas, or draw missed ones, then confirm each document.
Generate results
After every document is confirmed, click to generate the final results. Check the preview, download a single PDF, or download the whole batch as a ZIP.
Check file requirements before uploading
- At most 5 PDFs per batch
- Each file no larger than 20 MB
- Each file has 1–20 pages
Files must open normally, be structurally intact and have no open password. If an upload check fails, replace that file and keep the other selected documents.
Check sensitive content, then confirm the redaction scope
For contracts, focus on signatories, contact details, ID and account numbers; for résumés, check phone numbers, emails and addresses. For signatures, seals and QR codes, draw covering areas manually.
Use page jumps, the current-page filter and previous/next navigation to review page by page. Each document supports the last 50 undo/redo steps; unhandled clues raise a reminder but never block confirmation or generation.
During review the original text stays readable inside outlined boxes; after generation, check that the covered areas are complete. The final result is an image PDF that can be previewed and printed, with text not selectable.
How are files handled and kept?
Once processing starts, originals are uploaded to private server-side storage. AI processing also sends the originals to a third-party document parsing service and the text snippets needed for detection to a third-party AI service; the workbench shows a notice beforehand and submits only after you confirm.
- Anonymous batches are valid for 1 hour and become inaccessible immediately after expiry; the backend cleans originals and results after a 5-minute write-protection window.
- Results and records completed with a signed-in account are kept for 30 days; originals are still cleaned per the batch expiry rules.
- After generating results, you can actively clean up the original documents on the result page. Third-party services process and retain data under their own policies.
The public guide and search listings describe product features only. Uploaded files, original text, marks and batch links are not public content; file access still requires account or anonymous-session verification.
Frequently asked questions
Can scanned PDFs be redacted?
Readable scanned PDFs are supported. Detection and location quality depends on sharpness, rotation and layout. Clues to locate can be drawn manually, and image areas still need manual checks.
Does AI find every piece of sensitive information?
AI results are suggestions and need page-by-page review. Beyond names, contact details and ID numbers, also check signatures, seals, QR codes and information visible in images.
Does drawing a box cover the text immediately?
During review only outlined boxes are shown so the original text can be checked. Only after confirming and generating are the marked areas applied to the final PDF. Editing a confirmed document requires confirming it again.
Can the original text still be copied after export?
This version rebuilds confirmed pages as image PDFs without the original text layer, so exported text is not selectable. Before downloading, still check the actual covered areas and visible content.
Do I need to sign in first?
You can work anonymously. Signing in keeps completed redaction records and enables re-downloading results; anonymous batches on different domains or browsers are not the same session.
Can I upload Word files or encrypted PDFs?
Only PDFs are accepted. Export Word and similar documents to PDF first; for PDFs with an open password, remove the password protection first.