How to redact a PDF on iPhone or iPad
You don't need an app or Adobe Acrobat to redact a PDF on an iPhone. maskyourdocs runs in Safari, works with your finger, and keeps the file on your phone.
Open the redaction tool Free, no account. The file stays on your device.Quick steps
- In Safari, go to maskyourdocs.com and tap Get started.
- Tap Choose a file and pick the PDF from Files.
- Rest a finger on what should go until a ring appears, then drag over it.
- Tap Export, then Generate, then Download.
Why not use Markup?
Markup in Files, Mail and Photos draws on top of a PDF. A black rectangle or marker stroke hides the text on your screen, but the text underneath stays in the file, and whoever receives it can copy it out. You can test this yourself with the copy-paste test.
Get the PDF into Files first
- From Mail: tap the attachment, tap the Share button, then Save to Files.
- From WhatsApp or another app: open the document, tap Share, then Save to Files.
- From a website: download it in Safari. It goes to the Downloads folder in Files.
Files in iCloud Drive show up in the picker too.
Step by step
Step 1: Open the PDF
In Safari, go to maskyourdocs.com and tap Get started, then Choose a file. iOS offers your Photo Library, the camera, or Choose File; pick Choose File for a PDF. If the PDF asks for a password, enter it. The redacted copy you download has no password.
Step 2: Cover things with a box
Rest a finger on the spot until a ring appears, then drag over what should go. A quick swipe scrolls instead, so you can't mark anything by accident. Pinch with two fingers to zoom in on small print.
Step 3: Or select words
If the PDF has selectable text, tap Select text. Press and hold a word, drag the handles to cover everything you want gone, then tap Mask this.
Step 4: Catch every copy
Type a name or number into Find text and tap Mask all to cover it on every page.
Step 5: Fix a mark
Tap a black bar to see what's under it. Drag it to move it, use the corner handles to resize it, or remove it. Undo takes back the last change.
Step 6: Export and save
Tap Export. On a phone the resolution starts at Screen: 150 DPI, which keeps memory use low; choose Standard or Print if you need sharper pages. Tap Generate, check the result, then Download. Safari saves the copy to Downloads in the Files app, unless you've chosen a different download location in Safari's settings.
Share the redacted copy
Open the Files app, go to Downloads, and press and hold the file whose name starts with maskyourdocs.com-. Tap Share. Make sure it's that copy you send, not the original.
Tips for iPhone and iPad
- Large files: above about 20 MB on a phone, the tool warns you, because Safari can close the tab if it runs out of memory while exporting. Use 150 DPI, or a computer, for very long documents.
- Photos and screenshots: pick them from your Photo Library and draw boxes the same way. See redacting a screenshot.
- Offline: once the site has loaded, it keeps working without a connection.
- iPad: everything works the same, with more room to see the page.
Questions
Do I need an app to redact a PDF on iPhone?
No. maskyourdocs runs in Safari. There's nothing to install and no account.
Where does the redacted PDF go on iPhone?
To the Downloads folder in the Files app, unless you've set a different download location in Safari's settings. Its name starts with maskyourdocs.com-.
Does Markup redact a PDF on iPhone?
No. Markup draws on top of the page; the text underneath stays in the file and can be copied out.
Is my PDF uploaded when I redact it on my iPhone?
No. It's opened, redacted and saved on the phone itself.