How to Black Out Text in a PDF on Windows and Mac: Online/Offline [Free and Free Trial]

Last updated on November 2, 2023

Summary :

Privacy protection is increasingly crucial in today’s society. If you need to share sensitive information in a PDF file and want to black it out securely, this article has detailed solutions for you.

Table of Contents

How To Black Out Text in a PDF Online/Offline

How To Black Out Text in a PDF Online/Offline

PDF is a widely used document format in the workplace. However, when sharing or publishing documents, it may be necessary to conceal sensitive information such as personal identification data, birth dates, home addresses, and private telephone numbers.

Different from PDF highlighting, the process of blacking out always involves the removal of confidential information, and it usually requires PDF editor software, which you can find in our list of the best PDF editors.

If you have concerns regarding this matter and are seeking a solution, keep reading to learn more.

How To Black Out Text in a PDF Online Free

If you are searching for a convenient PDF editor that is complimentary but encompasses many everyday PDF editing, converting, compressing, splitting, and various other functions, PDFgear can assist you.

The web-based PDFgear online tool allows you to edit PDFs on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux. The following will provide you with three different techniques that enable you to safeguard the confidentiality of PDFs by blacking out the text via PDFgear.

Method 1. Use “Rectangle” To Black Out Text Online

You can add graphics to mask text in a PDF, and, of course, you need to fill in the color inside the graphics to achieve the effect of blacking out the text in the PDF.

Step 1. Access To PDFgear Online Editor

Navigate to the PDFgear online PDF editor > Drag the files to the upload box.

Or click Choose files to select a PDF from your local folder and add files.

Upload PDF Files to PDFgear

Upload PDF Files to PDFgear

Step 2. Add Shapes To Black Out Text in PDFgear

Click Add or Edit annotations > Choose Add shapes in the upper-right corner > Select a darker color from the Change Color drop-down menu to fill the shape > Use the mouse to swipe and black out the text in the PDF.

Black Out Private Information in PDF via PDFgear

Black Out Private Information in PDF via PDFgear

Method 2. Add a Textbox to Black Out Text in a PDF

Adding a text box allows you to modify the statements in the PDF, but if you make a setting for the added text box, it can be used to overwrite the text and black out the text.

Step 1. Enter the PDFgear Online Editor

Similarly, upload the PDF that needs to be blacked out after entering PDF Online Editor.

Step 2. Add Text Boxes in PDF Through PDFgear

Click on the Add or Edit annotations option situated at the top-right of the screen > Choose Free Text > Position the text box directly over the content that needs to be concealed > Adjust the box.

Add a Textbox to PDF in PDFgear

Add a Textbox to PDF in PDFgear

Step 3. Black Out Text With PDFgear

After adding the text box, you will see the words Type Here > Delete it > Click Change Color > Select the Black color to fill.

Blacken the Information in the PDF by PDFgear

Blacken the Information in the PDF by PDFgear

However, the online tool has several limitations and prompts that the file cannot be uploaded when its size exceeds 20MB. In case the unstable network causes issues with document operations, content cannot be saved in time.

Therefore, an offline approach for handling large files would be more suitable.The offline version of PDFgear called PDFgear Desktop is another solid option for redacting PDFs, it’s listed as one of the best free PDF editors with powerful features.

How To Black Out Text in a PDF with PDFgear Desktop Software

In the PDFgear desktop program, in addition to the aforementioned methods for blackening text within PDF operations, you can also add highlights to complete text blackening.

Adding highlighting is a common technique for marking up PDFs, and you can customize the highlighting color in PDF to serve as a text masking tool.

With the inbuilt OCR feature, you can even black out and edit scanned PDF documents.

Step 1. Upload PDF Files To PDFgear

Download and Install the PDFgear Desktop > Fire it up > Click Open File to import your PDF files.

Add PDF to PDFgear

Add PDF to PDFgear

Step 2. Black Out the Text in the PDF in PDFgear

Locate the Annotate toolbox on the PDFgear editing page > Click the Highlight tool > Select black color in the brush color selection > Use your mouse to drag over the text that needs to be covered to blacken it all.

Black Out text in PDF by PDFgear

Black Out text in PDF by PDFgear

How To Black Out Text in a PDF Using Adobe Acrobat Pro

For such professional tools as Adobe Acrobat, blacking out the text in a PDF is a very simple and convenient thing. However, Adobe Acrobat Reader does not allow you to redact or edit the PDF, so you need to upgrade to the Pro version to do so.

Step 1. Navigate to the “Tools” page > Locate the “Redact” feature > Select “Add” to import PDF files.

Add PDF Files to Adobe Acrobat Pro

Add PDF Files to Adobe Acrobat Pro

Step 2. Click the “Redact Text & Images” drop-down menu on the top > Select “Properties”.

You can choose to use lines, text blocks, objects, or regions to select the cipher text part.

Set the Text Position and Style in Adobe Acrobat Pro

Set the Text Position and Style in Adobe Acrobat Pro

Step 3. Box out the area or the text you desired to redact > Click “Apply” to finish blacking out.

Black Out Important Information in Adobe Acrobat Pro

Black Out Important Information in Adobe Acrobat Pro

How To Black Out Text in a PDF Using Preview

If you are a macOS user, you can redact text in a PDF using Preview, the built-in tool on Mac.

Step 1. Open the PDF file with Preview.

Step 2.  Locate Tools tab > Click the Redact button.

Prepare to Black Out the Text

Prepare to Black Out the Text

When the warning appears, hit OK.

The Warning Pop-up Window

The Warning Pop-up Window

Step 3. Drag and move your mouse to select the text that needs to be blackened out.

Redact the Text in the PDF

Redact the Text in the PDF

FAQs

How to Black Out Text in a PDF on Mac?

If you are using a Mac device, PDFgear can help you effectively black out text in your PDF. Import the PDF to PDFgear > Click Annotate > Highlight > Choose the black color. When you want to reverse it, simply use the “Ctrl+Z” shortcut key to undo it.

How to Black Out Text in a PDF for Free?

PDF processing tools are often paid or only provide a free trial period with limited functions. But with PDFgear, you don’t have to worry about any fees. You can black out private information in your PDF directly on the PDFgear Online Editor by adding graphics and filling in colors.

Can I Black Out Text in a PDF Without Redacting it?

You can certainly black out text in your PDF without redacting it. In Adobe Acrobat Pro’s “Protect” toolbox, you can also set the option to black out the marker. You can go to the “Protect Tool” to hide sensitive information.

What are the Steps To Redact Adobe Acrobat Pro?

There are some complexities in trying to black out specific text information in Adobe Acrobat Pro, but it is also very intuitive. Upload the file to Adobe Acrobat Pro > Click “Mark for Redaction” > “Text & Images” > Select the text and areas you need to blackout > Hit “Apply”.

Is It Possible to Black Out Text in a PDF Online?

If you have limited device space or only need to black out text in PDFs occasionally, using an online PDF tool is a practical choice. PDFgear offers a powerful and user-friendly online PDF editor. Access the PDFgear Online PDF Editor and follow the same steps as with desktop software to easily black out text in your PDF.

Conclusion

Adobe Acrobat Pro is certainly a very trustworthy and reliable website for editing PDFs, but it requires an expensive subscription fee. If you are looking for an unrestricted solution for you to black out text in PDF, then PDFgear can be your best choice. You can not only experience the speed of online tools but also enjoy the full range of desktop software.

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