Erase content in a PDF
Paint over part of a page in white or a matching color, then type the replacement on top.
Drop a PDF hereLet go to start
or paste with Ctrl/⌘+V
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What it does
Erase PDF content, explained
Erase is a digital whiteout: it paints an opaque box over part of a page so whatever was there no longer shows. It is visual only. The text, image or drawing underneath stays in the file and can still be selected, copied, searched or extracted.
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Use it for cosmetic fixes: hiding a typo before typing the correction, clearing an old date on a form you are re-using, removing a stray pen mark from a scan, or blanking printed instructions you don't want on a copy.
Do not use Erase to hide anything sensitive. Redact PDF permanently removes the content: affected pages are rebuilt so the text, images and drawings under each box are gone from the file. Blackout is the same as Erase in a black box, also visual only. If anyone could be harmed by the hidden words being recovered, redact.
How to do it
Erase content in a PDF in 4 steps
1Your PDF
2Click and change
3The edited PDF
- 1
Open the PDF
Upload the file; it opens in the editor with the Erase tool selected.
- 2
Draw over the content
Drag a box over what you want hidden. Change the fill color to match tinted paper.
- 3
Type the replacement
Switch to Text and type on top of the erased area if something should replace it.
- 4
Download
Downloading needs a free account; the Free plan includes 3 edited-document downloads a month.
Example
Before and after
A printed invoice template with last year's date and an outdated phone number in the header.
Both are covered with white boxes and the new date and number typed on top. The old values remain in the file underneath, which is fine for a cosmetic update.
Settings & formats
What you can control
- Fill color
- White by default; pick any color to match the page background.
- Box size and position
- Resize or move the box after drawing it; nothing is final until you export.
Input
Output
Good to know before you start
- Erase does not remove anything: underlying text stays selectable and searchable, and can be recovered by deleting the box in another PDF editor.
- Flattening on export draws the box into the page, but the original content is still beneath it in the file.
- On scans with colored or textured paper, a solid fill color can be visible as a patch.
If something goes wrong
If something goes wrong
- I can still select the text I erased
- That is expected: Erase only covers it. If the text must be gone, delete the erase box and use Redact PDF on that area instead.
- The white box shows on the scan
- Pick the paper color for the fill, or make the box tighter so it covers only the marks.
Erase PDF content: questions people ask
What is the difference between erase and redact?
Erase hides content visually and leaves it in the file. Redact permanently removes the text, images and drawings under each box and strips hidden data, so it cannot be recovered from the output.
Is a black box the same as redaction?
No. A blackout box is a black erase box and is just as recoverable. Only the Redact tool removes the content underneath.
Can I erase existing text and retype it in the same font?
For that, Edit text is usually better: it replaces the line and matches the font where it can. Erase plus Text is useful when the original font isn't available or the page is a scan.
Can I undo an erase?
Yes, until you download. Select the box and delete it, or use undo. Earlier versions are also kept in version history.
Does erasing remove form fields?
No. A box drawn over a fillable field hides it visually but the field stays. Use Remove PDF fields to delete fields.