Mac's Preview app lets you draw black boxes, but those boxes don't always remove the text underneath, and it's easy to get wrong. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Pro, redact here instead: open the PDF in your browser on your Mac, mark what to hide, and download a file that passes an automatic check.
Redact a PDF on Mac Without Adobe
To redact a PDF on a Mac without Adobe Acrobat, open InkOut in Safari, Chrome or Firefox, mark what to hide and export. Unlike drawing shapes in Preview, the text under each box is permanently deleted and verified. No installation is needed, and the file stays on your Mac.
Preview's black rectangles don't reliably remove text. Redact a PDF on Mac for real in Safari or Chrome, free and without Adobe Acrobat.
FreeNever uploadedVerified removal
Frequently asked questions
Does Preview have a real redact tool?
Recent macOS versions include one, but it's easy to use the shape tool by mistake, which only covers text. Always verify the result, for example with our free checker.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It runs in Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
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