Whiteout vs Redaction: How to Hide Info in a PDF

Published 5 November 2026

You black out an ID number in a PDF, send it and later find that someone could still copy the number. This happens a lot. It comes from mixing up covering text with removing it.

What whiteout does

Whiteout draws a coloured box over the text. It hides the text from view, but the original words may still be stored in the file underneath. Anyone who selects the area, searches the document or inspects the file might still see them.

Whiteout is fine for tidying a draft, covering an old line before you type a new one or hiding something that is not sensitive.

What redaction does

True redaction removes the underlying text or image from the file and then marks the area. Once the file is saved, the hidden content is gone. This is what you need for private data.

Why it matters

Examples of leaks caused by simple boxes include names, phone numbers, bank details and ID numbers in documents shared with the public or sent to the wrong person. A black rectangle looks safe, which makes the mistake easy to miss.

Test your file

After you cover something:

1. Open the saved PDF.
2. Use Select all (Ctrl+A) or drag across the covered area. Does text highlight?
3. Press Ctrl+F and search for a word you covered.
4. Paste the selected text into a notepad.

If the hidden words appear, they are still in the file.

What to do for sensitive information

• Use a tool built for true redaction that deletes the content.
• Or remove the page completely and recreate the document without the private part.
• Or ask the person who made the document for a version without it.
• Always run the test above on the final file.

What EditPDFFree does

EditPDFFree has a Whiteout tool and an Edit text tool. They cover content. They do not remove it, so do not rely on them to hide private information. They are very useful for correcting and updating documents. See how to change text in a PDF.