Redact Names from PDF Documents
Automatically detect and mask personal names in contracts, reports, and scanned documents — no manual highlighting required.

Try for free

Select the PII types to redact, then upload your document. No account required.

Select information types to redact

Drop your file here

PDF, JPG, or PNG (max 5MB)

Select File

*Security first: Your files are securely processed and deleted immediately. Create an account to manage your files, PII and retention settings. This demo only processes the first page. Create an account for full document processing.

What counts as a name in a PDF?

A personal name is any reference that identifies a real individual: first names, last names, full names, initials, signature blocks, and even informal references like "Mr. Dupont." Under GDPR, the FADP, and HIPAA, names are personal data and require protection any time a document leaves your trusted environment.

Why you should redact names before sharing

Names are the most common identifier in any document. Even a name on its own — without an address or ID number — can be enough to identify someone when combined with context from the rest of the document.

  • Comply with GDPR, the Swiss FADP, and HIPAA "minimum necessary" rules
  • Avoid liability when sharing court filings, deeds, or medical records with third parties
  • Prevent re-identification of pseudonymized datasets

Common documents containing names

  • Contracts and engagement letters
  • Court filings and judgments
  • Property deeds and lease agreements
  • Medical records and clinical notes
  • Witness statements and depositions

How Redact PDF AI detects names

Our pipeline uses Azure AI Language for entity recognition, supporting 100+ languages including French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Romansh. The detector understands context (so "Will" the name is treated differently from "will" the verb) and works on scanned PDFs through OCR. You stay in control: review every detection in the Studio editor before applying irreversible redaction.

How it works

  1. 1

    Upload your PDF

    Drag and drop a single file or a batch — including scanned documents. We support PDF, JPG, and PNG.

  2. 2

    AI detects names

    Our analyzer marks every personal name on every page. Select or deselect categories like Person, Email, Organization.

  3. 3

    Refine in the Studio

    Add manual redaction boxes for missed names or remove false positives. Use Excluded Terms to teach the AI which names should never be masked (e.g., your own brand).

  4. 4

    Download redacted PDF

    Output is rasterized and flattened — no hidden text layer, no metadata leakage, no way to recover the original names.

For notaries and law firms

Property deeds, powers of attorney, and family-law documents frequently contain dozens of name references per page. Batch-upload an entire case file and process hundreds of pages in minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Does it redact signatures as well as typed names?

Yes. Detected name regions cover typed names. For hand-drawn signature images, use the Studio editor to add a manual mask in a few seconds.

Can I keep some names visible (e.g., my company name)?

Yes. Add them to your "Excluded Terms" in account settings and they will never be auto-masked across future uploads.

How accurate is name detection in non-English documents?

Azure AI Language supports automatic language detection across 100+ languages. We routinely process French, German, Italian, and Spanish documents with the same accuracy as English.

Ready to redact PII with simplicity?
Gain accuracy and speed compared to Adobe Acrobat and other redaction tools.