Redacting PDF file in MacBook Pro 2012

mirghany77 wrote:

Is it possible to redact PDF file in MacBook Pro 2012?

You can redact a PDF document in Acrobat Pro, which is still available on Catalina at this date (Nov. 2024).

While Preview on Catalina does not have a redact feature, there is a workaround. You could black out the text you want to redact, then print to a new PDF document.

Use Tools > Annotate ... then select rectangle, oval or polygon and make sure it is filled with black. After you have blacked out all the desired areas, do File > Print > PDF > Save as PDF and give the output file a new name. This will flatten the PDF and make the redacted areas permanent in the new file.

Note that in your original, edited PDF the blacked out areas can still be removed; that's why you need to print to a new PDF file. Use the new PDF file as your redacted version.

Placing a black-filled rectangle annotation over a word in Preview and then File menu > Print… PDF > save as PDF, does not block a PDF find hit on the underlying word when reopened in Preview or from an external application. A true redaction would remove the word from the original PDF.

On macOS Sequoia v15.1 here is what happens when you place a black-filled rectangle annotation over a word:

I even ran a custom AppleScript that purposely flattens a PDF using NSPrintInfo and the underlying text is still found by multiple search approaches.

If the OP wants real redaction, then a proper PDF editor is required and these are not free.

Apple only introduced a redact feature in the Preview 11.0 application on macOS Big Sur (11). Your 2012 Mac is not supported for upgrade to Big Sur.

You would need a paid PDF Editor compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15.7) that features redaction, as there is no other means with a free application to achieve PDF redaction on Catalina.

My error. I just tested it and yes the content is still there when you reopen the printed PDF. 😱. Apologies.

But in the process I did discover the Readact tool in Preview v.11 !