Redact Word Document
Permanently black out names, numbers and other sensitive details in Word documents — with a preview and a list of every match.
- Files never leave your device
- 100% free
- No sign-up
- No watermark
- Works offline after first load
or drag & drop the .docx documents to redact
How to redact a Word document
- Select or drop one or more Word documents (.docx).
- Type the words or phrases to hide, one per line, and tick the kinds of details to find automatically — emails, phone and card numbers, ID numbers and more.
- Check the list of matches and the preview — untick anything that should stay visible — then click Redact to download the redacted copy.
About Redact Word
Black out sensitive details in Word documents before you share them. Type the names, words or phrases to hide, or let the tool find emails, phone and card numbers, ID numbers, IBANs, web and IP addresses, dates and amounts. Every match is listed with its context — untick any that should stay — and the preview shows the redacted document.
The text is replaced inside the file, not covered, so it can’t be copied or uncovered, and the rest of the formatting is kept. Matches are found in headers, footers, footnotes, comments, text boxes, document properties and link addresses too, and tracked changes, comments, hidden text, author names and the thumbnail can be cleaned out. Nothing is uploaded.
Good for
- Sharing contracts and statements with personal data hidden
- Publishing documents for FOI requests or legal disclosure
- Removing client names before using a document as an example
Tip: Search for variations too — first names, initials, nicknames and spellings — and check the match list before you download.
Frequently asked questions
Is the redacted text really gone?
Yes. The matched characters are replaced inside the file itself — not covered with a shape — so the original text can’t be copied, searched or uncovered by removing the black bars.
Where does it look for matches?
Everywhere text can hide: the body, tables, text boxes, headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes and comments, plus the document properties, picture descriptions, link addresses and field codes.
What can it find automatically?
Email addresses, phone numbers, card numbers (checked with the Luhn test), ID numbers such as SSN, Aadhaar, PAN and UK NI numbers, IBANs, web and IP addresses, dates, money amounts — or all numbers.
What about tracked changes and comments?
Deleted text kept by Track Changes can be recovered, so by default changes are accepted and comments, hidden text and author names are removed from the redacted copy.
Can I keep some matches visible?
Yes. Every match is listed with the text around it; untick the ones to leave as they are. The preview updates as you go.
Black bars or a label?
Black bars of the same length keep the layout, fixed-length bars also hide how long each word was, and a label such as [REDACTED] makes clear where text was removed.
Can it redact text inside pictures?
No — text that is part of a picture or scanned image can’t be searched. Check pictures yourself, or remove them before sharing.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Redaction happens entirely in your browser — your documents never leave your device, which is what you want for confidential files.