Paste any text and personal data such as email addresses, phone numbers, links, card numbers and Social Security numbers is found and masked automatically. Add your own names or terms, pick how redactions look, and copy a version that is safe to share.
Last updated:
What was found
Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded. Always review the result: automatic patterns can miss unusual formats.
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How to use the Text Redaction Tool
Paste your text into the Original text box. An example loads so you can see how it works.
Choose what to redact: tick the data types and add any names or terms, separated by commas or new lines.
Pick a replacement style: solid blocks, [REDACTED], labels like [EMAIL], numbered labels or keep the last 4 characters.
Check the highlighted preview to confirm every sensitive item is marked.
Copy or download the redacted text, and optionally a CSV log of what was replaced.
Trailing punctuation such as a full stop or bracket is left in place
Card number
4111 1111 1111 1111, 5500-0000-0000-0004
13 to 19 digits that pass the Luhn checksum
SSN
123-45-6789, 123 45 6789
Never-issued ranges (000, 666, 900-999, 00, 0000) are skipped
IP address
203.0.113.42, full IPv6 addresses
Each IPv4 part must be 0-255
Date
03/14/1988, 2024-05-01, March 14, 1988, 14 March 1988
Month and day must be valid
Long number
Account 99812345, policy 4417 2290
At least 6 digits
Choosing a redaction style
█ blocks keep the original length and layout, which looks like a classic blacked-out document. The length can hint at what was removed, so use a fixed marker if that matters.
[REDACTED] hides both the value and its length. It is the usual choice for documents shared outside your organization.
Type labels and numbered labels keep the meaning of the text. "[EMAIL 1] forwarded the invoice to [EMAIL 2]" is still easy to follow, which helps when you share tickets, chat logs or data with colleagues or AI tools.
Keep last 4 follows the common practice for card and account numbers (█████ █████ ████ 1111) so people can still recognize which account is meant.
Tips for safe sharing
Add every person, company, street and project name to the custom terms box. Names are the information automatic patterns cannot see.
Check headers, signatures and quoted replies at the bottom of emails, where contact details tend to hide.
The redaction log contains the original values. Keep it private, or do not download it at all.
For PDF files, use Redact PDF, which removes the underlying text rather than drawing a box over it.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to redact text?
Redacting means removing or obscuring sensitive information before a document is shared, so the rest can be read safely. In plain text the information is replaced with black blocks, a marker such as [REDACTED] or a label like [EMAIL]. Unlike covering text with a black box in a PDF, replacing the characters in plain text removes them completely.
How are credit card numbers detected?
The tool looks for runs of 13 to 19 digits, optionally separated by spaces or dashes, and then checks them with the Luhn checksum that all major card numbers use. Numbers that fail the checksum, such as most order or tracking numbers, are not treated as cards. Turn on Other long numbers to mask those as well.
Which Social Security number formats are recognized?
Numbers written as three digits, two digits and four digits separated by dashes or spaces, such as 123-45-6789. Combinations that are never issued, like an area number of 000, 666 or 900-999, a group of 00 or a serial of 0000, are skipped. Nine digits written without separators are caught by the Other long numbers option.
What is the difference between labels and numbered labels?
Labels replace every item with its type, for example [EMAIL] or [PHONE]. Numbered labels give each distinct value its own number, so the same email always becomes [EMAIL 1] and a different one [EMAIL 2]. That keeps the text understandable, which is useful for support tickets, research data and logs sent to an AI assistant.
Can it find names automatically?
No. Recognizing every possible person name reliably needs a language model and still makes mistakes, so names are handled with the Custom terms box. Enter each name, company or address you want hidden; matching ignores case and spacing differences and can be limited to whole words.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. Detection and redaction run in JavaScript inside your browser and the text never leaves your device. Your option choices are remembered locally, but the text itself is not stored.
Is automatic redaction enough for legal documents?
Treat it as a fast first pass. Pattern matching cannot catch information written in unusual ways, such as a phone number spelled out in words, so always read the result before sharing. For court filings and regulated data, follow your organization's redaction policy.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.