What Is Redact PDF and How to Redact PDF: A Comprehensive Guide

Redacting PDF documents has become a key necessity, especially when all the dealings and trading of the world are transferring to digital forms, primarily in PDF format. Following that, a proper and legitimate tool is required to properly manage all the aspects of PDF, from editing to managing and securing.

In this article, we will discuss what redact means in a PDF file, along with various methods and tools to redact a PDF document properly.

Part 1. How to Redact PDF with UPDF?

UPDF is a renowned PDF editor for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS users. It provides a complete solution from basic to advanced features to edit and organize PDF files. It now supports the Redact PDF feature, with which users can conveniently manage to redact all the pages, a few pages, or their selected text, restricting the revelation of confidential information.

Before hopping onto how to redact PDF with UPDF, ensure you downloaded the software on your device. Hit the download button to begin the process; you can review the guide!

Step-by-Step Guide on Redacting with UPDF

Now, let's get into the steps!

• Launch UPDF and open the PDF that you want to redact. 
• Once opened, navigate to the left menu bar and enter the Redact mode. 
• Now, you will see multiple options on the top toolbar, including:

Properties – Owing to this option, you can tweak the redaction properties, like the filling and border colors, and whether you want to add overlay text. 

Mark for Redaction – Enable this option and select the text you want to redact. Once you have chosen, simply click the Apply option on the top right corner of the interface or the quick menu bar beside your selection. 

Redact Pages – This option allows redacting the page you are currently viewing, redacting even or odd pages, all pages, or a custom range of pages. 

Find Text & Redact – Last but not least, UPDF enables finding the text throughout the PDF and redacting it. This targeted redaction saves loads of time. 

• Once you are done redacting your PDF, ensure to Apply redaction by clicking on the most significant button from the right and save the changes you made.

Other Features of UPDF Robust PDF Editor

Listed down are some salient features UPDF offers to its users to make the user experience smooth and genuine:

• Add Image to PDF: UPDF allows users to add images to the PDF file so that users can easily update their PDF documents with new images occasionally. Users can also replace and delete the pictures in a PDF file with UPDF.
• Password Protect PDF: UPDF allows the user to password-protect important PDFs with sensitive and confidential information. This ensures that your data remains secure and can only be accessed by users with a password so that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
• Text Markup in PDF File: Users can edit the text of a PDF file with different text markup tools, such as highlighting, underlining, or striking through the text to differentiate the important information in the PDF file.

Download UPDF now to have a trial. Want to know more objective reviews of UPDF? Click here to learn more.

Part 2. What Does Redact Mean in PDF?

Redaction of a PDF file refers to the editing process in which you permanently black out sensitive information, including text or images on a PDF document before its publication and sharing it with the public. Large corporations or government sectors often use this feature to blur essential or confidential information in PDF files before sharing it with third-party.

Importance of Redacting a PDF Document

Redaction is an important feature for corporates, law informants, and the health industry as most documents are required to be handout in public. However, all the data on the PDF must not be shared with the public as of identifiable information such as name, address, blood group, and phone number. This is where the redaction tool plays its part by blurring or concealing the sensitive and private information presented in the PDF.

One thing that must be kept in mind while using different PDF redaction tools is that all of the tools don't blur out the selected area of the text completely, or by highlighting the blurred text, it becomes invisible. So, using verified and authentic redaction tools for your PDF files is highly necessary.

Part 3. How to Redact PDF Online Free

Xodo PDF Online is an online PDF editor tool that offers a complete online PDF solution for its user. Users can edit PDFs to view, annotate, crop, and flatten the document. Furthermore, they can also convert PDFs into different file formats. Xodo PDF Online also allows users to redact their PDF online for free using their "Redact PDF" feature. Follow the steps mentioned to redact your PDF file online with Xodo PDF Online for free:

Step 1: Open Xodo Redact PDF Tool on your computer by searching it up on a search engine. Add a PDF file that you are required to redact by tapping on the "Select File" option or by using a drag-drop feature. You can also import PDF files from Dropbox or Google Drive.

Step 2: After importing the PDF file, select the area you want to redact by dragging the cursor over the area. You can also zoom in and out of the pages, along with choosing the orientation of the pages and layout.

Step 3: After selecting the area, you want to redact, click on the "Redact" button. It will take a few seconds to process and once your file is ready, click on "Download" to download the file on your computer.

Part 4. How to Redact PDF with Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is an ideal solution for PDF files. Being a PDF editor enjoyed by businesses and individuals worldwide, it provides a comprehensive solution from editing to adding signatures.

Besides basic editing features, it also offers advanced features such as flattening, password protection, and redacting PDF documents to keep the document safe and secure. Understand the steps thoroughly to make sure that you blackout all of the required confidential data in a PDF file using redact PDF tool on Adobe Acrobat:

Step 1: Download Adobe Acrobat on your Windows or Mac device. After launching the Acrobat, navigate to "Redact Tool". Follow it up by importing a PDF file on Adobe Acrobat by clicking on the "Select File" option.

Step 2: From the toolbar, tap on "Mark for Reduction" and click on "Text and Images." Mark the elements in the PDF file you are required to blackout permanently.

Step 3: Tap the "Apply" button to blackout the marked elements from the PDF. As soon as you click the apply button, a small window will open with the option "OK" to confirm the changes. After redacting the PDF, click on the "File" option from the toolbar and choose the "Save As" option. Rename the file and select the location to save the redacted PDF document.

Part 5. Comparison of the Three PDF Redacting Tools

No doubt, UPDF and Adobe Acrobat have comparable features, but the heavy price tag of Adobe puts a backlash on it, leaving the UPDF as the winner of the battle. So, if you want to redact your PDF but haven't downloaded any software yet, download UPDF now and enjoy the endless convenience of performing PDF-related tasks in a user-friendly interface.  

Part 6. FAQs on Redacting PDFs

1. How Do I Redact a PDF Online?

Xodo PDF Online is the best online PDF editor, which also offers the feature to redact PDF online for free. However, be careful to avoid leaking information when using online tools.

2. How Do I Redact a PDF in Chrome?

Download the PDF Filler for Chrome extension from the Chrome store and open a PDF file on your Chrome. After adding the PDF file, you will see an option in an orange box as "Fill & Edit." As soon as you tap on fill, it will redirect you to the PDF editor online website, where you can redact the PDF by choosing the "Blackout PDF" feature from the tools. After redacting the PDF, click on "Done." 

A small window will appear on your screen with the options. You have to click on the "PDF" option. Next, register your email on PDF Filler, and your redacted PDF will be saved on the PDF Filler extension, from where you can save it on your computer.

3. Why Can't I not Redact my PDF?

You will not be allowed to redact the PDF file if you see the redact tool greyed out. It means that the PDF file has been locked, and to redact the file, you must first unlock the PDF for editing.

4. How Do I Blur Text in PDF Free?

You can blur the text in PDF files using Xodo PDF Online, free software to edit PDF files. However, with the launch of the redaction tool in UPDF, you can easily switch to UPDF as it is a more secure and reliable option for editing PDF files.

Final Words

To blackout information in a PDF file, it is essential to use reliable methods and tools so that no one can trace the information back once it is blacked out. Relying on the available online solution is not an answer, especially if you are working in a highly confidential department where there is a significant risk of the information getting leaked.

UPDF, a complete solution for PDF files, just launched the Redact PDF feature for its users to operate across different devices and operating systems. Download UPDF today to manage and edit your PDF files on the go. You can also upgrade to UPDF Pro to use UPDF without limitation.