Quick Method: AI-Powered Redaction (60 Seconds)
The fastest way to redact any document. Works for PDFs, images, and exported Word/Excel files.
Privacy note: Documents stay in your browser. AI detection uses Anthropic's API via bank-grade TLS 1.3 encryption with zero data retention. No complete document file is ever uploaded to a server. Try it now →
How to Redact by Document Type
PDF Documents
PDFs are the most common document type for redaction. Drop the PDF directly into SafeRedact — no conversion needed. The AI will detect PII across all pages, including text in headers, footers, form fields, and annotations. For scanned PDFs (image-based), SafeRedact's OCR processing identifies text within the scanned images.
Microsoft Word Documents
Word doesn't have a built-in redaction tool, and common workarounds like black highlighting are dangerous — the text remains recoverable. Convert .docx to PDF with ModernPDF (free, in-browser), then redact with SafeRedact. The safe approach: export to PDF (File → Save As → PDF), then redact the PDF with SafeRedact. Before exporting, run Word's Document Inspector (File → Info → Check for Issues) to strip metadata, tracked changes, and comments. Full Word redaction guide →
Images (PNG, JPG)
Drop image files directly into SafeRedact. The AI detects text within images and applies pixel-burn redaction — the pixels are permanently destroyed, not just covered. This is important for scanned documents, screenshots, and photos of physical documents.
Excel Spreadsheets
Export to PDF (File → Save As → PDF), or use ModernPDF for free browser-based conversion, then redact the PDF. For spreadsheets with sensitive data scattered across multiple sheets, export each sheet separately or use Print → PDF to capture the layout you need.
Scanned Documents
Scanned documents are just images embedded in a PDF. SafeRedact processes these the same as any other document — the AI detects text within the scanned images using OCR and applies pixel-burn redaction. No separate OCR step is needed.
What to Redact
The specific information you need to redact depends on your context. Here's a reference by situation:
| Situation | What to Redact | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Bank statements (rental, visa, loan) | Account numbers, transaction details, routing numbers. Keep balance and institution name visible. | Guide → |
| Tax returns | SSN, spouse's SSN, dependent SSNs, bank account numbers. Keep income figures if needed for verification. | Guide → |
| Medical records | HIPAA requires removal of 18 identifiers: names, geographic data, dates, phone, fax, email, SSN, medical record numbers, and more. | PHI guide → |
| Legal filings | Rule 5.2 requires: SSN (last 4 only), names of minors (initials only), DOB (year only), financial accounts (last 4 only). | Guide → |
| Employee records | SSN, home address, DOB, salary, bank details, medical information, emergency contacts. | Guide → |
| Driver's license | License number, address, DOB, photo (depending on purpose). Keep name and state visible if needed for ID verification. | Guide → |
| Pay stubs | SSN, employer EIN, bank account for direct deposit, deduction details. Keep gross/net pay if needed. | Guide → |
How to Verify Redaction Worked
After redacting, always verify the output. Here's a quick checklist:
- Open in a separate PDF reader. Don't just re-open in the same tool. Use a different application (Preview on Mac, Chrome's built-in PDF viewer, or Foxit Reader).
- Try to select text in the redacted areas. Click and drag over a blacked-out section. If you can highlight or select text, the redaction failed.
- Use Ctrl+F (Cmd+F) to search. Search for a name, number, or phrase that should have been redacted. If the search finds it, the redaction failed.
- Try copy-paste. Select a redacted area, copy it, and paste into a text editor. If any text appears, the redaction failed.
- Check document properties. File → Properties (or Document Properties). Look for author name, company, creation software, or other metadata that should have been removed.
If your document passes all five checks, the redaction is solid. SafeRedact's pixel-burn method passes all of these by design — there's no text layer to select, search, or copy from.
Warning: Never use black highlighting, black text on black background, text boxes, or image overlays as "redaction." These methods make text invisible to the eye but leave the data in the file. It can be extracted in seconds. See real examples of failed redaction →
Redacting on Different Devices
Desktop (Mac/Windows/Linux): Open any browser, go to saferedact.app, drag and drop. No installation needed.
iPhone/iPad: Open Safari or Chrome, go to saferedact.app. Tap "Upload" to select a file from your device or Files app. The full AI workflow runs on mobile.
Android: Open Chrome, go to saferedact.app. Tap "Upload" to select from your device. Full functionality on mobile browsers.
Chromebook: Same as desktop — open Chrome, go to saferedact.app. SafeRedact is a web app, so it works on any device with a modern browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I redact a document for free?
Go to saferedact.app and drop your document. The free tier gives you unlimited AI-powered redaction with no signup. The only difference from paid plans is a small watermark on the output. More about our free tier →
Is SafeRedact better than Adobe for redaction?
For most users, yes. SafeRedact is free (Adobe costs $22.99/month), uses AI to detect PII automatically (Adobe requires manual selection), and runs in your browser (Adobe requires desktop installation). Adobe's advantage is metadata sanitization and support for broader file types. Full comparison →
Can I redact a document on my phone?
Yes. SafeRedact works in any mobile browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox). The full AI detection and permanent redaction workflow runs on mobile devices.
How long does it take to redact a document?
With SafeRedact, a typical document takes under 60 seconds from upload to download. A 12-page contract with 20+ PII instances takes about 47 seconds. Manual redaction in Adobe Acrobat takes 8-15 minutes for the same document.
What if the AI misses something?
You can manually add redactions for anything the AI didn't detect. Select the text or area, and it's added to the redaction set. AI detection catches the vast majority of PII automatically, but human review is always the final step.