Redact screenshots like you mean it
Black out sensitive data with solid fills that leave nothing behind. No blur artifacts, no faint outlines, no guessing what was underneath. Total coverage, permanently baked in. Works in your browser or runs locally on Mac & Windows.
Redaction options at a glance
Three fill colors for different contexts. All three provide maximum security.
| Method | Best for | Security | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid fill (black) | Legal docs, medical records, API keys, passwords | Maximum | Complete coverage — nothing visible beneath |
| Solid fill (white) | Light-background documents, PDFs, forms | Maximum | Clean, blends with the document background |
| Solid fill (custom) | Brand-colored reports, presentations, marketing | Maximum | Matches your document's visual style |
How to redact a screenshot
Three steps. Permanent results.
Open your screenshot
Paste with ⌘V or capture directly with the built-in screenshot tool. Drag an image from Finder if you prefer. The screenshot loads on the canvas instantly — no import wizard, no file picker unless you want one.
Pro tip: Take a Mac screenshot with ⌘⇧4 and paste immediately with ⌘V. Screen to editor in under a second.
Draw redaction boxes
Select the redact tool and drag over anything sensitive — names, account numbers, diagnoses, financial figures. Each box fills with a solid color that completely replaces the content underneath. Add as many boxes as you need. Every area gets its own redaction layer you can adjust before exporting.
Pro tip: Hold Shift while dragging to create a perfectly square redaction box. Useful for covering profile photos or avatar images.
Export the redacted file
Copy to clipboard or save as PNG/JPEG. The moment you export, the original pixels under each redaction box are permanently destroyed and replaced with the solid fill. No one can undo this — not with Photoshop, not with AI, not with forensics. The data is gone.
Pro tip: Use ⌘C to copy straight to clipboard. Paste directly into email, Slack, or your document editor without saving a file.
When you need real redaction
Blur is fine for casual privacy. But when the data is genuinely sensitive — when regulations apply, when exposure has consequences — you need solid fills that leave absolutely nothing behind. That's redaction.
Legal documents
Court filings, contracts, NDAs — they all end up as screenshots eventually. Redact case numbers, client names, and privileged information before sharing with anyone outside the matter. Solid fills leave no room for guesswork.
Medical records
Patient names, dates of birth, diagnosis codes — HIPAA doesn't care that you only meant to share the lab results. Black out every identifier before that screenshot goes into a presentation, email, or training deck.
Financial reports
Revenue numbers, account balances, transaction IDs — one unredacted screenshot in a Slack thread can turn into a compliance incident. Cover the numbers with solid fills so the layout is visible but the data isn't.
Compliance screenshots
Auditors want proof that a process was followed. Your compliance team wants proof that PII was protected. Redaction gives you both — the screenshot shows the workflow, and the solid fills prove you handled the data responsibly.
Blur vs redact — when to use each
Both hide information. But they work differently and signal different things to the viewer. Pick the right one for your situation.
Blur
- Looks natural — blends with the surrounding content
- Good for casual privacy: names in docs, emails in sidebars
- Best for: documentation, social media, presentations
Redact
- Total coverage — zero visual hints of what's underneath
- Required for regulated data: HIPAA, GDPR, legal discovery
- Best for: legal docs, medical records, financial reports
Bottom line: When in doubt, redact. You can always switch to blur for less sensitive content, but you can't upgrade a blur to a redaction after you've already shared the screenshot. Start secure, dial back if you want to.
Tips for better redaction
Redaction is simple in theory. These four habits make sure nothing slips through.
Redact, don't blur, for real secrets
If someone could cause harm with the hidden information — financial data, passwords, medical records — use redaction, not blur. Blur is cosmetic. Redaction is permanent destruction. There's a meaningful difference when compliance is involved.
Extend past the text edges
Drag your redaction box a few pixels wider than the text it covers. Tight boxes can leave partial characters visible at the edges, especially with thin fonts. A half-visible letter can be enough to reconstruct a word.
Use consistent colors in formal docs
If you're redacting a legal document or medical record, stick with black fills throughout. Mixing colors looks sloppy and can raise questions about whether different redaction levels mean different things. Consistency signals professionalism.
Verify at 100% zoom before sharing
What looks fully covered at 50% zoom might reveal a sliver of text at actual pixels. Retina exports are especially tricky — always zoom to 100% on the final exported file. One missed character in an account number defeats the purpose.
More than just redaction
ScreenshotEdits packs 15+ editing tools into one fast app available on web and desktop.
Frequently asked questions
Is redaction more secure than blur?
Yes. Blur obscures content but can sometimes leave faint traces or patterns — especially at low intensity. Redaction replaces the original pixels entirely with a solid fill. There's nothing left to recover. It's the gold standard when you're dealing with genuinely sensitive data.
Can someone recover the text under a redaction?
No. Once you export, the original pixels are destroyed and replaced with the solid fill color. No image editing tool, AI upscaler, or forensic technique can bring them back. The data is gone.
Can I change the redaction color?
Yes. Black is the default and works well for most documents. You can also choose white, gray, or any custom color. White redactions blend into light-background documents. Match the color to your use case.
Does my screenshot get uploaded anywhere?
No. ScreenshotEdits runs in your browser or locally on your desktop. Your screenshots never leave your computer — no cloud, no servers, no tracking. This matters especially for redaction, where the content is sensitive by definition.
Can I use this for free?
Yes. All features including redaction are free. The free version adds a small watermark to exports. Pay €19 once to remove it permanently — no subscription, no recurring charges.
Can I undo a redaction before exporting?
Yes. Every redaction box is non-destructive while you're editing. Move it, resize it, change the color, or delete it entirely. Full undo/redo with ⌘Z. The redaction only becomes permanent when you export.
What file formats can I export redacted screenshots in?
Export as PNG (lossless, best for text-heavy screenshots) or JPEG (smaller file size). You can also copy directly to clipboard for pasting into Slack, email, or documents without saving a file first.
Black it out before you send it out
Free to start. Redact sensitive data in seconds. No account needed.