How to redact a PDF — properly.
Step-by-step guides for the tools most people already have. Honest about where each tool falls short, with a way to verify your work at the end.
Adobe Acrobat
Mac & Windows
Last verified
How to redact a PDF in Adobe Acrobat
Use Acrobat's Redact tool the right way — including the Sanitize step almost everyone misses.
macOS Preview
Mac (Ventura or later)
Last verified
How to redact a PDF in macOS Preview
Use Preview's built-in Redact tool on Ventura and later — and avoid the older 'black rectangle' approach that doesn't actually redact anything.
Microsoft Word
Mac & Windows
Last verified
How to redact a PDF using Microsoft Word
Redact in Word, export to PDF — and run the Document Inspector so comments, edit history, and metadata don't leak.