Step 1: Get the document into PDF
- Word on Windows: select File > Save a Copy (or Save As), choose PDF in the drop-down list and select Save (Microsoft). Under More Options > Options, Microsoft lists a setting to include tracked changes ("Document showing markup") and one to include document properties. Make sure tracked changes aren't included.
- Word for Mac: File > Save As or Save a copy, then choose PDF under File Format (Microsoft).
- Google Docs: File > Download and choose a file type; for large files Google suggests File > Print with Save as PDF (Google).
- Paper: scan it to PDF. Scanned pages have no searchable text, so you'll draw every box by hand.
Don't try to redact in Word itself by highlighting text in black or placing a black shape over it. That changes how the text looks; the text is still in the document and comes through into the PDF.
Step 2: Redact the PDF
- Click Choose PDF above. The file is opened in your browser and isn't uploaded.
- Drag on the page to draw a box over each name, number or passage. To remove a box, tap or click it, then tap ×.
- Click Apply redaction(s). Each page with a box is rebuilt as an image with the box burned in, and the document properties are left out.
- Click Download redacted PDF. Your original file isn't changed.
Step 3: Check that it worked
- Open the redacted file and search (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) for a word you removed. Nothing should be found.
- Try to select and copy the area under each box. Nothing should paste.
- Look at the document properties (title, author). They should be empty.
- Or drop the file into the free redaction checker.
What we found when we tested it
We tested the live tool on October 22, 2026 (PT) in headless Google Chrome 155 on Linux with a 1-page sample PDF we made (an account holder name, an account number and a balance, plus a title and author in the document properties). We drew one box over the account number and exported. We repeated the same steps in Chrome's iPhone 13 and Pixel 7 device emulation, drawing the box with touch input; that isn't a real phone, so treat it as a strong hint rather than proof.
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| Automatic check after export | All six checks passed: output re-opened with pdf.js, text layer removed, search test passed, metadata stripped, whole file scanned, no hidden content |
| Text left on the redacted page | None. Text extraction returned an empty page, so the name and balance outside the box were removed from the text layer too (the page is now an image) |
| Document title and author | Empty in the exported file |
| Colour of the box in the export | Pure black (0, 0, 0) on desktop, iPhone and Android emulation |
| File | redact-1p_redacted.pdf, about 27 KB (26.7 KB on desktop); the original file wasn't changed |
Paper documents
Blacking out a printed page with a marker and scanning it is another way to redact. We haven't tested how well markers hide text, so hold the page up to the light before you scan it. A scan can also be redacted here: draw boxes on the scanned pages, because InkOut can't search a scan for words.
Limits
- Free: up to 5 pages per file, with boxes you draw. A longer file shows: "This PDF has 10 pages. The free version handles up to 5 pages per file. Unlimited pages are part of Pro."
- Black boxes only. There's no colour setting; the box is always black.
- Pages you redact become images. Text on those pages can't be selected or searched afterwards. Pages without boxes keep their text.
- No OCR. Search only finds text that's really in the PDF. On scans, draw the boxes by hand.
- PDF only. Export Word or Google Docs files to PDF first.
- Pro features: redacting every search match at once, unlimited pages and several files. See pricing.
Related guides
- Redact a PDF in your browser
- Redact legal and court documents
- Remove text from a PDF
- Verify a PDF redaction
- Check a redacted PDF
FAQ
Can I redact a Word document directly?
Not in InkOut PDF, which only opens PDFs. Save the Word file as a PDF first, without tracked changes, then redact the PDF.
Is highlighting text in black the same as redacting?
No. Black highlighting or a black shape only hides the text on screen. The text stays in the file and can usually be copied or found with search.
How do I know the redaction worked?
Search the redacted file for a word you removed and try to copy the area under a box. InkOut PDF also runs six checks on the exported file before you can download it.
Can I redact a scanned document?
Yes, by drawing boxes over the parts to remove. InkOut PDF has no OCR, so it can't find words on a scan for you.
Sources (checked 2026-10-22)
- Microsoft Support, "Save or convert to PDF or XPS in Office Desktop apps" (Word steps and options): https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/save-or-convert-to-pdf-or-xps-in-office-desktop-apps-d85416c5-7d77-4fd6-a216-6f4bf7c7c110
- Google Docs Editors Help, "Create, view, or download a file" (Download, Print to PDF): https://support.google.com/docs/answer/49114
- InkOut PDF live tool, tested 2026-10-22: https://inkoutpdf.com/