Unredact a PDF: is the hidden text still there?
Drop a redacted PDF. Every black box is checked for text that still sits underneath it, where anyone with the file could copy it out.
How it works
- Step 1
Drop the redacted PDF. It is checked in this tab and never uploaded.
- Step 2
Each page is rendered and every word is tested to see whether it sits under a flat-colour box.
- Step 3
See any hidden text that was found, page by page.
Settlement summary
Claimant: Sarah Connor
Account: GB82 WEST 1234 5698
Signed by Kyle Reese on 3 March
Why redactions fail
Drawing a black rectangle in a PDF editor, or highlighting text in black, changes how the page looks but not what is in the file. Selecting the area and copying it reveals the text.
Check before you send
Run your own redacted documents through it before sharing them, especially court filings, HR files and anything going to a journalist or regulator.
Private by design
Documents you check are sensitive by definition, so the PDF is never uploaded. The check runs in your browser.
Questions
Can any redacted PDF be unredacted?
No. If the text was properly removed, it is gone and can’t be recovered. This finds the common mistake where the text is still in the file and only covered up.
How do I fix a bad redaction?
Redact the original again with a tool that removes the text, such as our PDF redactor, which rebuilds redacted pages so nothing is left underneath.
Does it work on scanned documents?
A scanned page is a picture, so usually there is no hidden text to find. If the scan has an OCR text layer, that text is checked like any other.
What other information can a redacted PDF leak?
Metadata such as author names, software and edit dates often survives redaction. Our PDF metadata remover strips it.
Related tools
Page updated 4 October 2026.