How to Redact in Adobe Acrobat — Step-by-Step Guide (Pro & DC)
Adobe Acrobat Pro has a powerful redaction tool — but only in the paid version. Learn exactly how to use it, where to find it, and explore a free alternative that also redacts Word and Excel.
Does Adobe Acrobat Have a Redaction Tool?
Yes, but with an important catch: only Adobe Acrobat Pro includes the redaction feature. Adobe Acrobat Standard ($12.99/month) and the free Adobe Acrobat Reader do not have any redaction capabilities.
Adobe Acrobat Pro costs $19.99 per month (or $239.88 per year) and is available for both Windows and Mac. For organizations that already have Acrobat Pro licenses, the built-in redaction tool is a solid option for PDFs. But it has significant limitations that many users discover only after subscribing.
Redactly is the only free online redaction tool that supports PDF, Word, and Excel. While Adobe Pro handles PDFs well, it cannot redact Word or Excel files at all. If your workflow involves multiple document formats, you need a different solution.
Where Is the Redact Tool in Adobe Acrobat?
The location of the Redact tool depends on your version of Acrobat:
- Adobe Acrobat Pro (classic interface): Click Tools in the top menu, then scroll to find Redact in the tools list. If it does not appear, click Add Tool to add it to your toolbar.
- Adobe Acrobat DC: Click the Tools tab in the top-left corner, then search for “Redact” using the search bar. Click the result to open the Redact toolset.
- Keyboard shortcut: In Acrobat Pro, you can press Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) to open the Redact tool directly.
Important
If you are using Adobe Acrobat Standard or Adobe Reader, you will not see the Redact tool. This feature is exclusive to Acrobat Pro.
How to Redact in Adobe Acrobat Pro (Step-by-Step)
Follow these steps to redact a PDF using Adobe Acrobat Pro:
Open your PDF
Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro and open the PDF file containing sensitive information that needs to be redacted.
Navigate to the Redact tool
Go to Tools > Redact. If Redact is not visible, use the search bar to find it, or right-click the toolbar and select Redact.
Mark content for redaction
Select the “Mark for Redaction” option, then click and drag over text, images, or areas you want to redact. You can also redact entire pages or use the “Search & Redact” feature to find and mark all instances of specific text.
Configure redaction appearance
Click the Redact tool settings (gear icon) to choose how redaction marks appear. The default is a black box. You can also add overlay text like “Redacted” if needed.
Apply Redactions
This is the critical step. Click the “Apply Redactions” button. Acrobat will warn you that this action cannot be undone. Confirm to permanently remove the marked content. This step removes the text from the PDF content stream, making it unrecoverable.
Save the redacted PDF
Save the redacted document with a new filename. This preserves your original document and ensures the redacted version is clearly identified.
How to Redact in Adobe Acrobat DC
Adobe Acrobat DC uses a slightly different interface. The Redact tool is accessed through the Tools hub.
Open your PDF in Acrobat DC, click Tools in the top-left corner, and search for “Redact.” Click the Redact result to open the tool panel on the right side of the screen. From there, the process is the same: mark content, configure appearance, apply redactions, and save.
The main difference in DC is the interface layout. The redaction engine itself works identically to the classic Pro version.
Adobe Acrobat Redaction Limitations
While Adobe Acrobat Pro’s redaction tool is competent for PDFs, it has notable limitations:
- Paid subscription required: At $19.99/month, the cost adds up quickly, especially if you only need redaction occasionally.
- No Word or Excel support: Adobe Acrobat can only redact PDFs. If someone sends you a Word document or Excel spreadsheet with sensitive data, you cannot redact it directly in Acrobat.
- Limited batch processing: While Acrobat Pro offers some batch processing capabilities, redacting multiple files simultaneously can be cumbersome and slow.
- No built-in AI detection: Adobe’s redact tool relies on you to manually find and mark every piece of sensitive information. The Search & Redact feature only helps if you already know exactly what to look for.
Free Alternative: Redactly
If you need redaction but do not want to pay $19.99/month for Adobe Pro, or if you need to redact Word and Excel files in addition to PDFs, Redactly is the ideal alternative.
| Feature | Adobe Acrobat Pro | Redactly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99/mo | Free |
| PDF Redaction | ||
| Word Redaction | ||
| Excel Redaction | ||
| Online Use | ||
| AI-Powered Detection |
Need a Free Redaction Alternative to Adobe?
Redactly handles PDF, Word, and Excel in one tool. AI detects sensitive information automatically. No subscription needed.
Free for 20 pages per month. No credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Adobe Acrobat have a redaction tool?
Yes, but only in Adobe Acrobat Pro (the paid version, $19.99/month). Adobe Acrobat Standard and Adobe Reader do not include the redaction feature.
Where is the redact tool in Adobe Acrobat?
In Adobe Acrobat Pro, go to Tools > Redact. In Adobe Acrobat DC, use the search bar and search for “Redact” to find the tool. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac).
Can Adobe Acrobat redact Word or Excel files?
No. Adobe Acrobat Pro can only redact PDF files. It cannot redact Word (.docx) or Excel (.xlsx) files directly. You would need to convert those files to PDF first, then redact the PDF.
Is there a free alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro for redaction?
Yes. Redactly offers free online redaction for PDF, Word, and Excel files. No subscription needed, and it handles multiple file formats that Adobe does not support.
Do I need to apply redactions in Adobe for them to take effect?
Yes. In Adobe Acrobat Pro, marking text for redaction only highlights it. You must click the “Apply Redactions” button for the removal to become permanent. Until you apply, the marked text remains visible in the document.
Learn more: Redactly vs. Adobe Acrobat · How to Redact a PDF