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Redact Private Information From a PDF

Use solid redaction blocks for private information, understand how the PDF pages are flattened, and check the saved copy before sharing it.

3 min read Updated Jul 13, 2026 Reviewed guide
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Quick answer

What you need to know

Use Redact PDF for private information. It rebuilds every page as a PNG image with solid blocks; Blur PDF rebuilds changed pages as JPEG images, and blurred details can still be recognizable, so do not use blur for secrets.

Best for
Anyone sharing PDFs that contain names, account details, addresses, legal information, or other private content.
Start with
Redact PDF
Privacy
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Do this first

Create and Check a Redacted Copy

Keep the source safe, cover every private area, and inspect the flattened export.

  1. 1

    Keep an untouched original

    Work on a copy so you can correct mistakes without losing the complete document.

  2. 2

    Cover every private area

    Use Redact PDF and place a solid block over each name, number, image, or detail that must not be shared.

  3. 3

    Understand the flattened output

    The redacted export turns every page into an image, so selectable text, links, forms, signatures, bookmarks, and accessibility can be lost.

  4. 4

    Verify the exported copy

    Reopen the saved PDF, inspect every page and block at high zoom, and send only the copy you checked.

01

How JPEGConvert Redaction Works

Redact PDF renders every page as a PNG image, paints solid blocks over the selected areas, and builds a new image-based PDF.

  • The pixels under each solid block are not placed in the exported page image.
  • All pages are flattened, including pages that do not contain a redaction block.
  • Keep the original because the new PDF is no longer a normal selectable or interactive document.
02

Why Blur Is Not for Secrets

Blur PDF changes the pixels on pages where you add a blur, but blurred shapes and text can remain recognizable.

  • Changed pages are rebuilt as JPEG images, while untouched pages are copied into the new PDF.
  • A weak blur may still reveal letter shapes, faces, numbers, or other details.
  • Use blur for a visual effect, not for passwords, account numbers, identities, or private records.
Go deeper

Put PDF Pages in the Right Order

Reorder, rotate, remove, or extract PDF pages while keeping a safe original and checking the final page sequence.

Read the related guide Use Blur PDF
03

Check the Flattened Copy

The export can look correct while a block is too small or a page feature you needed has disappeared.

  • Open the saved PDF in another reader and zoom in on every covered edge.
  • Review repeated headers, footers, images, and every page that may contain the same detail.
  • Confirm that losing selectable text, links, forms, signatures, and accessibility is acceptable.
Quick questions

Frequently asked questions

Does Redact PDF remove selectable text?

Yes. JPEGConvert rebuilds every page as an image, so the exported PDF no longer contains the original selectable text layer.

Is Blur PDF safe for private information?

No. Blurred details can remain recognizable. Use Redact PDF with solid blocks for information that must not be seen.

What can flattening remove from the PDF?

Flattening can remove selectable text, links, forms, signatures, bookmarks, attachments, and accessibility information. Keep the original and test everything you need.

How should I check the redacted copy?

Reopen it in another PDF reader, zoom in on every block, review every page, and confirm that the new image-based file is acceptable for the recipient.

Remember this

The short version

  • Use solid redaction blocks, not blur, for private information.
  • JPEGConvert Redact PDF flattens every page into an image-based PDF.
  • Check every block and every required document feature before sharing.
Ready to work

Open the tool you need

Pick the step that matches your file. Each tool runs in your browser.

Redact PDF Rasterize every page to PNG and paint solid blocks over information that must not remain visible. Open tool Blur PDF Blur selected areas and rebuild only changed pages as JPEG images; do not use it for secrets. Open tool Remove PDF Metadata Create a separate copy without the metadata fields this tool removes. Open tool
Keep going

Related guides

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Put PDF Pages in the Right Order

Reorder, rotate, remove, or extract PDF pages while keeping a safe original and checking the final page sequence.

Read guide
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Move a Selectable PDF Table Into Excel

Extract a table that contains selectable PDF text, draw a tight selection box, and check the spreadsheet for shifted or missing values.

Read guide
Reviewed by JPEGConvert workflow team Updated Jul 13, 2026

Compared with the current controls and output behavior of the linked JPEGConvert tools.

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if (category === 'image' && isUtility) category = 'tool'; const labelMap = { jpg: 'JPG', jpeg: 'JPEG', png: 'PNG', gif: 'GIF', svg: 'SVG', pdf: 'PDF', heic: 'HEIC', jfif: 'JFIF', webp: 'WEBP', bmp: 'BMP', ico: 'ICO', word: 'DOCX', docx: 'DOCX', excel: 'Excel', xls: 'XLS', xlsx: 'Excel', mp4: 'MP4', mov: 'MOV', avi: 'AVI', mp3: 'MP3', aac: 'AAC', flac: 'FLAC', wav: 'WAV', webm: 'WEBM', cr2: 'CR2', arw: 'ARW', nef: 'NEF', raf: 'RAF' }; const formatLabel = (value) => labelMap[value] || value.toUpperCase(); function getFormatMeta(key) { if (key === 'check-my-file') { return {primary: 'Check', secondary: 'File', connector: 'dot'}; } const directMatch = key.match(/^([a-z0-9]+)-to-([a-z0-9]+)$/); const convertMatch = key.match(/^convert-([a-z0-9]+)-to-([a-z0-9]+)$/); const convertToMatch = key.match(/^convert-to-([a-z0-9]+)$/); if (directMatch) { return {primary: formatLabel(directMatch[1]), secondary: formatLabel(directMatch[2]), connector: 'arrow'}; } if (convertMatch) { return {primary: formatLabel(convertMatch[1]), secondary: formatLabel(convertMatch[2]), connector: 'arrow'}; } if (convertToMatch) { return {primary: 'Any', secondary: formatLabel(convertToMatch[1]), connector: 'arrow'}; } if (key.startsWith('compress-')) { return {primary: 'Compress', secondary: formatLabel(key.replace('compress-', '')), connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('base64') && key.includes('decode')) { return {primary: 'Base64', secondary: 'Decode', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.startsWith('base64-to-')) { return {primary: 'Base64', secondary: formatLabel(key.replace('base64-to-', '')), connector: 'arrow'}; } if (key.includes('-to-base64')) { const from = key.replace('convert-', '').replace('-to-base64', ''); return {primary: formatLabel(from), secondary: 'Base64', connector: 'arrow'}; } if (key.includes('base64')) { return {primary: 'Base64', secondary: 'Encode', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('ascii')) { return {primary: 'ASCII', secondary: 'Art', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('resizer')) { return {primary: 'Resize', secondary: 'Pixels', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('remove-pages')) { return {primary: 'Remove', secondary: 'Pages', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('crop') && key.includes('pdf')) { return {primary: 'Crop', secondary: 'PDF', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('pdf-editor')) { return {primary: 'Edit', secondary: 'PDF', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('unlock')) { return {primary: 'Unlock', secondary: 'PDF', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('protect')) { return {primary: 'Protect', secondary: 'PDF', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('pdf') && key.includes('metadata')) { return {primary: 'Clean', secondary: 'Metadata', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('metadata')) { return {primary: 'EXIF', secondary: 'Clean', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('background')) { return {primary: 'Remove', secondary: 'Background', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('crop')) { return {primary: 'Crop', secondary: 'Image', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('watermark')) { return {primary: 'Watermark', secondary: 'Image', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('upscale')) { return {primary: 'Upscale', secondary: 'Image', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('merge')) { return {primary: 'Merge', secondary: 'PDF', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('split')) { return {primary: 'Split', secondary: 'PDF', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('ocr')) { return {primary: 'OCR', secondary: 'PDF', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('sign')) { return {primary: 'Sign', secondary: 'PDF', connector: 'dot'}; } if (key.includes('trim')) { return {primary: 'Trim', secondary: 'Video', connector: 'dot'}; } return {primary: 'Tool', secondary: '', connector: 'dot'}; } function getIconClass(key, categoryName) { const toFormat = key.split('-to-')[1]; if (key === 'check-my-file') return 'bi-file-earmark-check'; if (key.includes('ascii')) return 'bi-textarea-t'; if (key.includes('resizer')) return 'bi-aspect-ratio'; if (key.includes('metadata')) return 'bi-shield-slash'; if (key.includes('compress')) return 'bi-file-earmark-zip'; if (key.includes('base64')) return 'bi-journal-code'; if (key.includes('background')) return 'bi-scissors'; if (key.includes('crop')) return 'bi-crop'; if (key.includes('watermark')) return 'bi-type'; if (key.includes('remove-pages')) return 'bi-trash'; if (key.includes('unlock')) return 'bi-unlock'; if (key.includes('protect')) return 'bi-lock'; if (key.includes('editor')) return 'bi-pencil-square'; if (key.includes('excel')) return 'bi-file-earmark-spreadsheet'; if (key.includes('upscale')) return 'bi-arrows-angle-expand'; if (key.includes('merge')) return 'bi-files'; if (key.includes('split')) return 'bi-scissors'; if (key.includes('ocr')) return 'bi-file-earmark-text'; if (key.includes('sign')) return 'bi-pen'; if (key.includes('trim')) return 'bi-scissors'; if (toFormat) { switch (toFormat) { case 'jpg': case 'jpeg': return 'bi-filetype-jpg'; case 'png': return 'bi-filetype-png'; case 'gif': return 'bi-filetype-gif'; case 'svg': return 'bi-filetype-svg'; case 'pdf': return 'bi-filetype-pdf'; case 'word': case 'docx': return 'bi-file-earmark-word'; case 'xls': case 'xlsx': case 'excel': return 'bi-file-earmark-spreadsheet'; case 'heic': return 'bi-filetype-heic'; case 'webp': return 'bi-filetype-webp'; case 'bmp': return 'bi-filetype-bmp'; case 'ico': return 'bi-file-image'; case 'mp4': return 'bi-filetype-mp4'; case 'mov': return 'bi-filetype-mov'; case 'mp3': return 'bi-filetype-mp3'; case 'wav': return 'bi-filetype-wav'; case 'avi': return 'bi-filetype-avi'; default: return 'bi-file-earmark-image'; } } if (categoryName === 'video') return 'bi-film'; if (categoryName === 'audio') return 'bi-music-note-beamed'; if (categoryName === 'image') return 'bi-file-earmark-image'; return 'bi-gear'; } const formatMeta = getFormatMeta(lowerKey); const connectorIcon = formatMeta.connector === 'arrow' ? 'bi-arrow-right-short' : 'bi-dot'; const iconClass = getIconClass(lowerKey, category); const mark = document.createElement('span'); mark.className = `tool-hero-mark converter-mark converter-mark--${category}`; const iconWrap = document.createElement('span'); iconWrap.className = 'converter-mark__icon'; const icon = document.createElement('i'); icon.className = iconClass; iconWrap.appendChild(icon); mark.appendChild(iconWrap); const formatWrap = document.createElement('span'); formatWrap.className = 'converter-format'; const primary = document.createElement('span'); primary.className = 'format-pill'; primary.textContent = formatMeta.primary; formatWrap.appendChild(primary); if (formatMeta.secondary) { const connector = document.createElement('span'); connector.className = 'format-connector'; const connectorIconEl = document.createElement('i'); connectorIconEl.className = connectorIcon; connector.appendChild(connectorIconEl); formatWrap.appendChild(connector); const secondary = document.createElement('span'); secondary.className = 'format-pill format-pill--secondary'; secondary.textContent = formatMeta.secondary; formatWrap.appendChild(secondary); } mark.appendChild(formatWrap); title.classList.add('tool-hero-title'); title.prepend(mark); })();