How to redact a PDF on Mac
It's tempting to reach for Preview, the PDF viewer built into macOS. But Preview's annotation tools only draw a black rectangle over the text — the underlying words remain in the file and can be copied or revealed. That's a common, costly mistake.
To redact a PDF on Mac so the data is actually gone, use a tool that performs true redaction. Here's how to do it free, in any browser, without uploading the file.
Step by step
- 1Open the redactor — nothing to install
Go to the PDF Redactly redactor in any modern browser (desktop or phone). There's no app to download and no account needed to start.
- 2Drop your PDF onto the page
Drag the file in or click to choose it. It loads straight into the browser tab — there is no upload endpoint, so the document never travels to a server.
- 3Let auto-detection find the sensitive data
PDF Redactly scans the document and flags 30+ categories — names, SSNs, emails, phone numbers, account numbers, dates of birth, and more — so you don't have to find every instance by hand.
- 4Review and adjust
Add your own phrases to redact everywhere they appear, click any word on the page to mark it, or drag the edge of a redaction box to extend or shrink it. You stay in control of every redaction.
- 5Apply and download
Applying the redactions destroys the underlying text and image data inside each box in the output PDF — it isn't just visually covered. Copy-paste from the saved file reveals nothing.
Why Preview isn't enough
A black box drawn in Preview sits on top of the text layer. Anyone can select the text behind it, copy it, or delete the box to reveal it. Real redaction removes the characters themselves.
PDF Redactly runs in Safari or Chrome on your Mac, auto-detects sensitive fields, and on apply destroys the underlying text and image data inside each box. Copy-paste from the saved file returns nothing.
FAQ
Preview can draw a black box, but it doesn't remove the underlying text — so it isn't true redaction. The hidden text can be copied or revealed. Use a tool that performs real redaction instead.
Not with PDF Redactly. It runs in your browser on the Mac and never uploads the document.
Free, in your browser, with automatic detection. Your file never leaves your device.
Open the redactor