How to White Out PDF Documents Safely: 5 Proven Methods

Elise Williams

2025-03-05 10:11:50 • Filed to: Editing Tips • Proven solutions

Password protection alone cannot prevent PDF data leaks—hackers often bypass weak encryption. To permanently remove sensitive content (text, images, or metadata), you must white out PDF files using reliable redaction tools. This guide covers 5 methods, including free and professional solutions, tested across Windows, Mac, and mobile devices.

The process of redaction is generally quite easy to follow. It requires users to select the data or image that is to be removed. Once that is done, then the redaction tool will simply white out that area of text or image and cover it with a redaction box. In this manner, the redacted portion ceases to exist and cannot be read by any other tool.

Method 1: White Out PDF with PDFelement 

1. Step 1. Import PDF into PDFelement

   After successful installation, Run PDFelement on your computer. Click “Open File” to open the PDF document which needs to be whited out.

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2. Step 2. Mark Content for Redaction

   1. Navigate to the Protect tab.
   2. Select “Mark for Redaction”.
   3. Highlight text/images to remove.
   

3. Step 3. White out PDF with Redaction

   Right-click the Redaction area and choose "Properties." This will open the Properties window, where you can choose the color of the area that has been redacted.

   If you wish to add any text on top, simply choose the option that says "Use Overlay Text."
   You can also tick "Redaction Codes" to add further information. Finally, click "Apply Redactions" to permanently white out the PDF. 
   

Some more Key Advantages of Wondershare PDFelement - PDF Editor Wondershare PDFelement Wondershare PDFelement

1. Permanently deletes content (irreversible)
   The smart tool can white out the required portions, such as text, images, and other objects on the document.
2. Batch redaction to remove all instances of a keyword.
   You can also search specific text and redact the same words in a PDF at a time.
   PDFelement also gives you the possibility of changing the color of the redaction area, putting custom text or message, or adding a redaction code. 
3. OCR support for scanned PDFs
   It also has a built-in OCR, which can turn scanned PDFs into fully editable documents. This will help you easily white out text in a scanned PDF.

Method 2: White Out PDFs in Adobe Acrobat (Paid Alternative)

By using Adobe Acrobat, it is also easy to white out your PDF file. To do this, do what I will show you below:

• Step 1: Open the "Redact" tool

  Click the “Tools” tab and then click the “Redact” icon below the “Protect & Standardize” section.

  

• Step 2: Enable “Mark for Redaction”

  Click “Mark for Redaction” and select “Text & Images.”

  

• Step 3: White out PDFs in Adobe

  Select the text or image you want to white out. Now click “Properties,” select the white color from “Redacted Area Fill Color,” and finally select “OK.”

  

• Step 4: Apply

  Click "Apply" and confirm. Now, you can see that the selected text is erased. A dialog box will emerge; I recommend selecting "Yes" to remove hidden information. Just save your file as a new one, and you will finish this task.

  

Method 3: Free Online Tools to White Out PDFs

Don't worry if you don't have Adobe Acrobat or a Microsoft Office account. There are online applications to carry out this process easily and for free. Next, I will give you two examples.

1. Whiteout on PDF Online for Free Using SmallPDF

• Step 1: Upload your PDF

  The first thing you should do is go to the official SmallPDF website and choose the option "PDF Editor," which you can find in the "Tools" menu. Once you're there, drag and drop your document inside the box and wait for Smallpdf to process it.

  

• Step 2: Set the white out section

  To white out a section, click on the box and select the area you want to cover. If the box appears in black, use the small menu above your selection and choose white for the outline and fill. When everything is ready, click "Download."

  
• Risk: Free plans limit tasks/day; redactions aren’t permanent.

2. Make PDF Whiteout Using PDFzorro

• Step 1: Upload your PDF

  Go to the official PDFzorro website. Click the "Upload" button and set the path to the document you want to modify. Then, you must wait for your document to be processed and choose the option "Edit PDF."

  

• Step 2: Set the white out section

  Now, you will see the online editor of pdfzorro. To white out a section, click the "Rect." found in the left panel. Once you have selected this option, select the area you want to cover. When you finish, click "Save" and "Finish / Download."

  

Method 4: White Out PDF for Free with Mac Preview

On the other hand, macOS users have a native application called Preview. This application allows you to view and modify PDF documents, including white out your documents. I will show you how to whiteout on PDF using Mac Preview below.

• Step 1: Select the Rectangle Annotation tool

  The first thing you should do is open your PDF using Preview. Once you have opened your document with this application, go to the Tools section, display the "Annotate" menu, and choose the "Rectangle" option.

  

• Step 2: Choose color preferences

  Now, you can place rectangles in your document, but the default settings of Preview will assign a black margin. To fix this, use the options bar and select the color white.

  

• Step 3: Adjust the size

  To finish, click anywhere inside the rectangle and use the perimeter points to adjust the square in your desired position. When finished, be sure to save your changes or export a copy.

  

Method 5: White Out PDF in Microsoft Word

The most practical way to white out your PDF is through Microsoft Word. To do this, you only have to do the following:

• Step 1: Insert a text box

  Open your PDF file in Microsoft Word and locate the content you want to white out. Now click the “Insert” tab, hit “Text box,” and then select “Simple Text Box.”

  

• Step 2: Set the text box in front of the content

  Select the text box and click the "Layout Options" icon. Click the lower-right icon to activate the "In Front of Text" option.

  

• Step 3: Customize the text box

  Click “Shape Format” while you are selecting the text box. Customize color and outline; usually, the most practical way to white out the content is to choose a white fill color and select “No Outline” in the “Shape Outline” section.

  

Tool Comparison: Which Should You Use?

Conclusion

PDFs are valuable documents, and it is sometimes desirable to erase information that can be sensitive and confidential. Fortunately, there is the option to white out the text. To permanently white out PDF content, use PDFelement or Adobe Acrobat. Free tools like SmallPDF or Mac Preview work for quick edits but risk data recovery. 

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Elise Williams

chief Editor