Redact PDFs for real, not with black boxes
Drawing a black rectangle over a name does not remove it: the text underneath can still be copied, searched and extracted. AllofPDF performs true redaction. Pages that contain redactions are rebuilt so that the covered text, images and hidden data no longer exist in the file you share. It is free and runs entirely on your computer.
Also available for Windows ARM64Also available for Windows x64Portable ZIP (no install)
AllofPDF runs on Windows 10 and 11. Open this page on your PC to download.
How to redact a PDF
- Open the PDF and choose Redact from the toolbar or the Ctrl K command palette.
- Drag over the text or areas to remove. Search the document to find every place a name or number appears.
- Apply the redactions and save the result as a new file.
- Verify with Document X-Ray and by searching for the removed words. Nothing should be found.
Why true redaction matters
Nothing underneath
Redacted pages are rebuilt from a flattened image, so the original text objects, hidden layers and annotations on those pages are gone.
Checks before you share
Document X-Ray lists metadata, attachments, hidden layers and JavaScript that can leak information even when the pages look clean.
Sensitive files stay local
The documents most likely to need redaction are exactly the ones that should never be uploaded to a website.
Redaction checklist
Search for every variant of a name, ID or account number before applying redactions. Remember that document metadata and file names can also contain personal data. Redacted pages become images, so their remaining text is no longer selectable: run OCR on the redacted copy if it needs to stay searchable. Always keep the unredacted original in a secure place.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between redaction and a black box?
A black box only hides text visually. True redaction removes the underlying content, so it cannot be copied, searched or recovered from the saved file.
Why can't I select text on redacted pages?
Redacted pages are rebuilt as images so nothing hidden survives. Run OCR afterwards if you need the remaining text to be searchable.
Is redaction free?
Yes. True redaction and Document X-Ray are free and work offline.
Get AllofPDF, it's free
Windows 10 & 11 · x64 & ARM64 · Installer or portable ZIP