PDF files are usually used for work purposes. Therefore, it is sometimes important that you hide or remove some information from a file (or its metadata). You can select and delete content in PDF files easily through Adobe Acrobat. You can also take advantage of Adobe Acrobat's editorial tool. Edited content will be displayed as black boxes or other colors. Hidden information such as metadata (containing document author names, keywords, and copyright information) needs to be removed in certain methods. You need to subscribe to the Adobe Acrobat service. The standard Adobe Acrobat service is offered at a cost of 12.99 US dollars or around 190 thousand rupiah per month, while the Adobe Acrobat Pro service is available at 14.99 US dollars or 215 thousand rupiah per month.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Deleting Contents Separately
Step 1. Open Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat is marked by a dark red icon with a triangle and vertices on all three sides. Click the icon to open Adobe Acrobat. You can find this icon in the Windows “Start” menu or in the “Applications” folder in the Finder (Mac computers).
Step 2. Open the document
Follow these steps to open a PDF document in Adobe Acrobat.
- Click the menu " File ” in the menu bar in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Click " Open ” in the drop-down menu under the “File” menu.
-
Select the PDF file you want to open and click “ Open ”.
Alternatively, you can right-click the PDF file and select “ Open With…, then click " Adobe Acrobat ”.
Step 3. Click the object you want to delete
Object editing options are displayed. You can select a field of text, an image, or another object.
Step 4. Press the Delete key
The selected object will be deleted.
To delete a specific word in a text field, click the text you want to edit to display the cursor first. Click and drag the text that needs to be deleted to mark it, then press the Delete key or Backspace
Step 5. Click File
It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Click Save
The object will be permanently removed from the document. The name of the file or document will be added to the " _Redacted " suffix.
So that you don't overwrite the original, click " Save As ” and save the document in another directory or with another name.
Method 2 of 5: Deleting Pages
Step 1. Open Adobe Acrobat
You may have the icon on your desktop, but you may also need to look for it on your computer. The easiest way to find it is using the search bar. On a PC, the search bar is in the lower-left corner of the screen, while on a Mac, the search bar is in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Open the document
Follow these steps to open a PDF document in Adobe Acrobat.
- Click " File ” in the menu bar in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Click " Open ” in the drop-down menu under "File".
-
Select the PDF document that needs to be opened and click “ Open ”.
Alternatively, you can right-click the PDF file and select “ Open With…, then click " Adobe Acrobat ”.
Step 3. Click the page icon (“Pages”)
This icon looks like two sheets of paper on top of each other. You'll find it at the top of the toolbar, on the left side of the screen.
Step 4. Click the page you need to delete
The pages are displayed in the column on the left of the window. Click the page to select it. To select multiple pages, hold down the Ctrl key and select all the pages you need to delete.
Step 5. Click the trash can icon
This icon is above the page list column, on the left side of the window.
Step 6. Click Ok on the pop-up window
With this option, you confirm deletion of the selected page. After that, the pages will be permanently deleted.
Step 7. Click File
It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 8. Click Save
The selected pages will be permanently deleted from the document. The file name will be added to the " _Redacted " suffix.
So that you don't overwrite the original, click " Save As ” and save the document in another directory or with another name.
Method 3 of 5: Editing Document Content
Step 1. Open Adobe Acrobat
You may have the icon on your desktop, but you may also need to look for it on your computer. The easiest way to find it is using the search bar. On a PC, the search bar is in the lower-left corner of the screen, while on a Mac, the search bar is in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Open the document
Follow these steps to open a PDF document in Adobe Acrobat.
- Click " File ” in the menu bar in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Click " Open ” in the drop-down menu under "File".
-
Select the PDF document that needs to be opened and click “ Open ”.
Alternatively, you can right-click the PDF file and select “ Open With…, then click " Adobe Acrobat ”.
Step 3. Click Tools
It's in the second menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Click Redact
This option is indicated by a pink marker icon. You can see it in the "Protect & Standardize" section of the "Tools" menu.
Step 5. Select the content or object you want to edit
You can redact anything in the document, including images. Follow these steps to select the object that needs editing:
- Double-click the word or image to select it.
- Click and drag the cursor to select a specific line, block of text, or area in the document.
- To select multiple places or areas, hold down the Ctrl key while selecting or clicking the next section.
- If you want the editor's markers to appear on every page (e.g. the header or footer of the letter in the same place on each page), right-click the section that needs to be marked and click “Repeat Mark Across Pages”.
Step 6. Click Apply
It's in the secondary toolbar at the top of the screen.
Step 7. Click Ok
With this option, you confirm the deletion of the selected objects.
If you want to remove hidden information from the document, click “ Yes ” in the dialog box.
Step 8. Click File
It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 9. Click Save
The selected objects will be permanently removed from the document. The file name will be added to the " _Redacted " suffix.
So that you don't overwrite the original, click " Save As ” and save the document in another directory or with another name.
Method 4 of 5: Editing Content Using Search Tools
Step 1. Open Adobe Acrobat
You may have the icon on your desktop, but you may also need to look for it on your computer. The easiest way to find it is using the search bar. On a PC, the search bar is in the lower-left corner of the screen, while on a Mac, the search bar is in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Open the document
Follow these steps to open a PDF document in Adobe Acrobat.
- Click " File ” in the menu bar in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Click " Open ” in the drop-down menu under "File".
-
Select the PDF document that needs to be opened and click “ Open ”.
Alternatively, you can right-click the PDF file and select “ Open With…, then click " Adobe Acrobat ”.
Step 3. Click Tools
It's in the second menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Click Redact
This option is indicated by a pink marker icon. You can see it in the "Protect & Standardize" section of the "Tools" menu.
Step 5. Click Mark for Redaction
This option is in the second toolbar.
Step 6. Click Find text
A menu bar will appear and you can use it to search for text that needs to be deleted or redacted.
Step 7. Select "In the current document" or "All PDF Documents In"
To search for text in the currently open document, click the circle button next to "In the current document". To search for text in multiple PDF documents, click " All PDF Documents In " and use the drop-down menu under the options to select the folder containing the multiple PDF files you want to edit.
Step 8. Select "Single word or phrase", "Multiple words or phrase", or "Patterns"
Click the circle button next to one of the search options and follow these steps.
- ” Single word or phrase ” (one word/phrase): Type the word or phrase into the search bar below the search options.
- ” Multiple words or phrases ” (a few words/phrases): Click “ Select Words ” and type the word or phrase you want to delete into the bar at the top of the menu. Click " Add ” to add a new word or phrase, and type an entry in the bar at the top of the screen. Click " Ok ” when finished adding all the words and phrases that need to be removed.
- ” Patterns ” (pattern): Use the drop-down menu to select a pattern. You can use the pattern to delete phone numbers, credit cards, social security cards, dates, and email addresses.
Step 9. Click Search & Remove Text
All text that matches the search entry will be searched in the document.
Step 10. Click the checkbox next to all the entries you want to delete
All the text entries you are looking for are displayed in the menu on the left of the screen. Click the checkbox next to all the entries you need to delete.
You can also click Check All at the top of the list to check all entries
Step 11. Click Mark Checked Results for Redaction
All entries will be marked for redistribution.
Step 12. Click Apply
It's in the second toolbar at the top of the screen.
Step 13. Click Ok
With this option, you confirm the redaction or deletion of selected entries.
If you want to remove hidden information from the document, click “ Yes ” in the dialog box.
Step 14. Click File
It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 15. Click Save
The selected objects will be permanently removed from the document. The file name will be added to the " _Redacted " suffix.
So that you don't overwrite the original, click " Save As ” and save the document in another directory or with another name.
Method 5 of 5: Removing Hidden Information
Step 1. Open Adobe Acrobat
You may have the icon on your desktop, but you may also need to look for it on your computer. The easiest way to find it is using the search bar. On a PC, the search bar is in the lower-left corner of the screen, while on a Mac, the search bar is in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Open the document
Follow these steps to open a PDF document in Adobe Acrobat.
- Click " File ” in the menu bar in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Click " Open ” in the drop-down menu under "File".
-
Select the PDF document that needs to be opened and click “ Open ”.
Alternatively, you can right-click the PDF file and select “ Open With…, then click " Adobe Acrobat ”.
Step 3. Click Tools
It's in the second menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Click Redact
This option is indicated by a pink marker icon. You can see it in the "Protect & Standardize" section of the "Tools" menu.
Step 5. Click Remove Hidden Information
It's in the second toolbar, under the "Hidden Information" section.
Step 6. Tick all the entries you want to delete
Existing entries view includes metadata, comments, or file attachments. Check the boxes next to the information you want to delete on the left sidebar menu.
By clicking the “+” icon next to each entry type and sub-entry in the dialog box, you can see each entry to be deleted. The marked entries will be deleted after you follow this method
Step 7. Click Remove
This option is above the list of entries you can bookmark, in the left sidebar of the application window.
Step 8. Click Ok
This option is in the alternative pop-up window that appears after you click "Remove".
Step 9. Click File
It's in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 10. Click Save
Selected information will be permanently deleted from the document. The file name will be added to the " _Redacted " suffix.
