How to redact a PDF properly on a Mac (a black box is not enough)

In short

In Preview, choose Tools, Redact, drag over the text and save. Do not just draw a black rectangle with Markup: when we tried it, the number under the box could still be selected, copied and pasted.

7 of 7 steps show a real screenshot from our MacBook Neo. Each step was checked against the maker's own instructions, linked at the end.

Steps

1. 1

   Do not use a black box

   A filled rectangle from the Markup toolbar covers the number on screen, but the text is still in the file.

   Done
   
2. 2

   See why: select under the box

   In a saved copy, we dragged across the line, including the black box. The text under it was selected.

   Done
   
3. 3

   The number is still there

   Pasted into TextEdit, the copy read "Test account 1234 5678".

   Done
   
4. 4

   Use Tools, Redact instead

   Choose Tools, Redact, then drag over the text. Preview warns that redacted content is permanently removed when the document is closed. Click OK.

   Done
   
5. 5

   Check the redaction

   The redacted text shows as a hatched box. Save the file, or save a copy and keep the original somewhere safe.

   Done
   
6. 6

   Test the saved copy

   Open the saved copy and select the same line again.

   Done
   
7. 7

   Only the label is left

   Pasted into TextEdit, the line read just "Test account", followed by the next line of the file. The number was gone.

   Done
   

If you do not see this option

• No Redact in the Tools menu? Open the PDF in Preview, not in Safari or another viewer. Redact works on PDFs; for an image, crop the part out instead.
• Looking in the Markup toolbar? Apple's Preview guide also describes a redaction tool in the Markup toolbar, and says the redaction becomes permanent once you close the document. If you need the original, keep a copy before you redact. Source: Annotate a PDF in Preview on Mac

If this does not work

• Still afraid it leaked? Do what we did: select the line in the saved copy, copy and paste it into TextEdit. Only what you kept should paste.
• Already sent a boxed PDF? Assume the text can be read. Redact it properly and send it again, and change anything sensitive it contained.
• Table of contents still shows the text? Apple says entries in a PDF's table of contents that link to redacted text are not removed. Check the sidebar of the saved copy, and redact or rebuild the file if an entry gives the secret away.

Good to know

Signing it next? How to sign a PDF on a Mac.

About this guide

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

Preview

Path

Preview › Tools › Redact

Real screenshots

7 of 7 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Sources

• Preview User Guide: Annotate a PDF in Preview on Mac
• Preview User Guide: Copy PDFs and images in Preview on Mac

Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.

Spotted a mistake? Menus change with updates, and we want every step to match your screen. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.

Liked this guide?

Follow us for new guides and short how-to videos.

Subscribe on YouTubeFollow on InstagramFollow on FacebookFollow on XFollow on ThreadsFollow on Pinterest

Did this guide work for you?

YesNo